Former Aston Villa striker Tony Cascarino has said that re-signing striker Tammy Abraham will be ‘the key’ to the Villans’ success next season.
The England international scored 26 times on loan at Villa Park this campaign, but is currently scheduled to return to Premier League giants Chelsea this summer, despite Dean Smith’s side winning promotion back to the top flight on Monday.
Cascarino has had his say: “Abraham is the key because a striker who can take chances is vital in the top flight,” he wrote in his column for The Times.
“He is still young at 21 and had one frustrating season in the Premier League with Swansea, so Smith must decide whether to replace him or go all out to keep him at the club.”
OPINION
Cascarino is absolutely spot on, here. The problem with the Abraham situation is that it’s not really in Villa’s hands anymore. The player has excelled for them on loan this season, scoring a bucketload of goals, but by all accounts there is no option to buy in his loan contract. That means that the decision over his future is entirely down to his parent club Chelsea. Now, the Blues are unfortunately facing a potential transfer ban, which could result in them keeping the 21-year-old on board at Stamford Bridge. That would obviously be a hammer blow for Smith, because Abraham’s been absolutely sensational for his team this term. However, there isn’t really anything Villa can do if the Blues decide to keep their man. He is their player after all. Still, the club should at least try to do whatever they can to bring Abraham back to Villa Park on a permanent basis this summer.