Mason Mount might have initially started the season as Chelsea’s most influential player but recent results in the past three games have shown Lampard has one man to thank and without a doubt that man is Tammy Abraham. At this rate, it won’t be long before confirmed talks of a new deal will surface for the in-form Chelsea striker.
Abraham scored a hat-trick in the Blues 5-2 win over Wolves on Saturday, taking his tally of Premier League goals for the season to seven, with all of them coming in Chelsea’s last three outings.
It seems the days of sending an army of starlets out on loan are no more at Stamford Bridge – and Tammy Abraham is profiting the most.
He set all and equalled all sorts of records in Chelsea’s win over Wolves and they highlighted the start of many good things to come.
Tammy Abraham is the youngest player to score a Premier League hat-trick for Chelsea.
They've finally found that No.9. ? pic.twitter.com/a470l7LXRM
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 14, 2019
He also joined esteemed company as he equalled a record set by Cristiano Ronaldo and Dele Alli. The 21-year-old became only the third player aged 21 or younger to score at least two goals in three consecutive Premier League matches, after Ronaldo, in December 2006, and Alli in January 2017. Great company indeed.
Back to the picture, Chelsea’s reliance on youth this season has been highlighted by the number of goals coming from their academy products.
Chelsea's first 10 goals of a Premier League season have been scored by English players for the first time in the competition's history.
Tammy Abraham scored seven of them. ? pic.twitter.com/bYFvOk70hn
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 14, 2019
Literally all of Chelsea’s 10 goals so far have come from academy products and when you consider that Tammy Abraham scored seven out of them, it literally suggests that without his goals, Lampard and his young squad could easily have been in the lower half of the league already.
The young striker has now been a wanted man on all ends. Despite the 21-year-old featuring for England at youth level, he is still eligible to play for Nigeria as well by virtue of his parent’s origin country.
A scenario that has made Frank Lampard urge England boss Gareth Southgate to give Abraham a senior call-up to ward off interest from the West African nation.
Lampard was quoted via the Daily Mail as saying:
‘He has put himself in the bracket for England by being the top scorer at this point so it’s one for Gareth [England manager Gareth Southgate]. I wouldn’t want to step on his toes but it’s clear from what Tammy is doing he will be wanted.’
Simply put, Lampard now acknowledges that Tammy Abraham will be on the radar following his impressive performances and that competition for his signature could not just be a national tussle but might equally spread to the club level as well.
The fact that Chelsea remain in uncertainty about their transfer ban means they must avoid any outgoings as possible, especially for someone who is scoring 70% of the team’s goals.
Earlier in the summer, talks of a new bumper deal for teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi via the Daily Mail emerged and much more recently talks of a new improved deal for Tammy Abraham as per the Telegraph made the rounds as well.
It would now appear that the latter should be Lampard’s principal focus based on recent happenings. Callum Hudson-Odoi hasn’t even played for the Blues this season and Chelsea have been doing fine so far without him from an attacking perspective.
Take Tammy Abraham out of the mix and it becomes a sad story for Lampard and his men. Asides the 21-year-old, the club only have an inconsistent Olivier Giroud and an out of sorts Michy Batshuayi to call upon.
Those options don’t look convincing enough for a side that wants to compete on all ends especially as the Blues have been drawn in a fairly difficult Champions League group that will stretch the squad tactically and physically as well. Tammy Abraham is the most ideal of Lampard’s striker options to have available ahead of any turgid schedule that may lie ahead.
Also the fact that Tammy Abraham has bettered Giroud’s Premier League goal tally in 36 appearances less further highlights Lampard is justified to start the young striker ahead of the experienced Frenchman.
As per Transfermarkt, Giroud has only six premier league goals for Chelsea in 43 appearances which is a downgrade to Abraham who has the dream ratio of seven goals on seven games. If I was Lampard I surely know who I’ll be starting as well based on the above stat.
Frank Lampard’s faith in youth is definitely paying off but the next move on the cards should be a new deal for Tammy Abraham and soon before the January window opens.
The 21-year-old has answered questions asked of him so far and if Lampard should be considering any major move come January, a new contract for Tammy Abraham should be top of the priority list.
