OPINION
Heading into the summer Aston Villa’s main priority will likely be to sign on loan talisman Tammy Abraham on a permanent basis.
Their chances of doing so will depend on what division Dean Smith’s side are playing in next season, of course, but their hopes may have already been ended this Friday.
That’s because, as Sky Sports reported, Abraham’s parent club Chelsea have been handed a two window transfer ban that prevents them from bringing any new players to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues can still sell those they deem surplus to requirements, but they are obviously less likely to do so now that they can’t sign any replacements for them. Besides, with Gonzalo Higuain seemingly entrenched as the first choice striker, that leaves just Olivier Giroud and Abraham as the best bets to back up the Argentine next campaign.
If Chelsea were to offload one of those two players in the summer, you’d have to think they’d give 32-year-old Giroud the chop over the 21-year-old Abraham.
That’s why Villa chief executive Christian Purslow will have been scrambling around trying to think of a solution after hearing this news on Friday.
It’s going to take a big effort for Villa to persuade Chelsea to allow the youngster to sign on permanently at Villa Park. They’ll be reticent to allow a young talent like that out of the door when they can’t bring a replacement in.
The Blues may wind up changing their whole philosophy surrounding young players as a result of this ban, meaning that Abraham may never again wear Villa colours once this season is at an end.
Simply put, this is horrible news for Smith’s team. Their hopes of signing Abraham were already slim considering their league position, but they’re now almost non existent after this news.