Manchester United is in desperate need of a new center forward, and the availability of Tammy Abraham has come to light. Amazingly, this comes after Cristiano Ronaldo’s contentious exit.
According to TEAMtalk, Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag is interested in signing Abraham from AS Roma in January. Ronaldo and the club parted ways amicably over his contract, leaving the team without a recognized senior striker.
Anthony Martial has frequently filled this position in recent games, but United would profit greatly from a more productive route as they aim to finish in the top four and rejoin the Champions League.
Abraham left Chelsea last summer in a £34 million deal to join I Lupi. While there, he developed through the Cobham academy, became the team’s talisman, then moved on to make regular starting appearances.
The 11-cap Englishman has scored 31 goals from 73 appearances since joining his Italian team, including an astonishing 27-goal haul last year in a campaign that was sealed with a Europa Conference League victory.
Abraham also scored 30 goals from 82 appearances while playing for Chelsea, including 15 goals and four assists in the 2019–20 season when he was the team’s offensive focal point. Abraham displayed his clinical prowess by fusing his sharpshooting abilities with his imposing physicality and quick bursts of speed.
Abraham continues to be among the top 17% of forwards according to FBref for predicted goals over the past year; despite his recent problems (scoring just three times from 15 league appearances), he is still upbeat and active.
By acquiring him this winter, United will be able to move Anthony Martial to his preferred position on the left flank, giving the team’s attacking surge a new dimension thanks to the presence of a seasoned center-forward.
Tammy Abraham does indeed seem to be an improvement in a central position, with the Frenchman being a far less effective asset in front of goal.
In 279 games for the club, he has scored 84 goals, or once every 5.1 games, but his xG ranking is horrendous; he is in the worst 37% of players in players in similar positions.
That is not ideal for Ten Hag’s team, which this season is seventh in overall shots but tenth in the division in total goals. As a result, there is a glaring tendency of ineffectiveness in front of goal, and Stephen Elliott’s description of Abraham as a “goal machine” suggests that the squad’s fortunes would soar as a result of his involvement.
