Manchester United are in determined want of a brand new centre-forward following the acrimonious departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, and Tammy Abraham’s availability has been illuminated.
That’s in response to TEAMtalk, who recommend Purple Devils supervisor Erik ten Hag is focusing on AS Roma’s Abraham for a January swoop, with the membership at present with out a recognised senior striker following Ronaldo’s mutual termination of his contract in fiery circumstances.
Anthony Martial has repeatedly assumed the function throughout current matches, however a extra prolific avenue would definitely profit United as they search to return to the Champions League with a top-four end.
Abraham signed for i Lupi final summer season in a £34m deal from Chelsea, the place he rose by way of the Cobham academy and earned a shot because the aspect’s talisman, earlier than shifting on for normal beginning appearances.
Martial improve
Abraham shouldn’t be probably the most high-profile signing United might convey to Outdated Trafford, however he’s a gradual goalscorer with confirmed Premier League expertise and European trophy-winning credentials.
Amid hyperlinks to the likes of Joao Felix, Victor Osimhen and Dusan Vlahovic, the signing of Abraham is perhaps met with a sure diploma of apprehension, however it will symbolize a shrewd delve into the market throughout winter – a time when signings of nice magnitude are notoriously tough to attain.
Since signing for his Italian outfit, the 11-cap Englishman has plundered 31 objectives from 73 outings, together with a surprising 27-goal haul final 12 months in a marketing campaign that was iced with a Europa Convention League triumph.
And through his time with Chelsea, Abraham scored 30 objectives from 82 showings, together with snatching 15 objectives and 4 assists in the course of the 2019/20 season, when he starred because the membership’s offensive point of interest, demonstrating his scientific prowess by merging his sharpshooting expertise along with his imposing physicality and slick bursts of tempo.
As per FBref, Abraham nonetheless ranks throughout the high 17% of forwards for anticipated objectives over the previous 12 months; regardless of his current struggles – scoring simply thrice from 15 league appearances – he’s nonetheless sustaining his vibrant, bustling strategy in and across the field, and is effectively positioned to flourish when he enters his subsequent purple patch.
By signing him this winter, United can shift Martial to his favoured place on the left flank, permitting the presence of a longtime centre-forward so as to add a dimension to the collective offensive surge.
Certainly, it will very a lot seem as if Abraham could be an improve in a central berth, with the Frenchman a far much less prolific asset in entrance of purpose.
He has scored 84 occasions in 279 outings for the membership, as soon as each 5.1 video games, whereas he ranks extremely poorly for xG, sitting within the worst 37% for positionally related gamers.
That isn’t perfect for Ten Hag’s aspect who rank tenth within the division for complete objectives this time period, whereas rating seventh for complete pictures. Because of this, there’s a clear development of impotence in entrance of purpose, and with the “purpose machine” – as dubbed by Stephen Elliott – Abraham’s inclusion, the squad’s fortunes would soar because of this.
