Report: Chelsea to offer Abraham long-term contract
Chelsea is preparing a long-term contract offer for Tammy Abraham following his breakout season on loan at Bristol City, sources told ESPN FC's Peter O'Rourke.
Abraham, 19, starred in the Blues' victorious runs in the FA Youth Cup of 2014-15 and 2015-16, so was handed a first chance to pit himself against senior players on a regular basis at the Robins. There he's proven his frightening potential by becoming the highest-scoring teenager in the 20-year Championship era, with his tally of 23 eclipsing the previous best of 16 held by ex-Fulham starlet Moussa Dembele.
Abraham's contract at Chelsea runs until 2019, but he's expected to be presented fresh terms upon his return from struggling Bristol City this summer. Numerous clubs have expressed an interest in acquiring the youngster on loan or permanently, but the signing of a new contract would discount the latter eventuality for now.
The first-choice striker at Chelsea is Diego Costa - the world's best in his position, according to his manager Antonio Conte - and links to signing Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata won't subside at a club that hasn't been noted for promoting academy players over the past couple of decades. The occasional deployments of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Nathaniel Chalobah this season do give Abraham hopes of breaking into the first-team picture in the 2017-18 term, however.
Abraham was rewarded for his startling progression in the Blues' successful youth teams with a substitute appearance in the final Premier League match of last season against Leicester City, and then travelled with the senior ranks to the pre-season International Champions Cup tournament in the United States in the summer of 2016.
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