Chelsea have calmed doubts over Tammy Abraham’s future after it emerged the striker has activated a one-year extension clause in his contract, which now runs until 2023.
Abraham signed a five-year deal in 2017 and there had been an expectation that Chelsea, who will be without Billy Gilmour for at least three months after the midfielder had knee surgery on Friday, would need to agree a new contract with the 22-year-old this summer. The club opened talks with the England striker over a long-term deal last year and discussions have dragged on longer than anticipated.
Rather than being forced into a corner in negotiations,Chelsea have given themselves breathing space after Abraham activated the one-year extension by reaching a set number of goals and games this season. Abraham, Chelsea’s top scorer with 16 goals in 40 appearances, was also awarded a pay rise to his previous £50,000 a week.
Chelsea have moved to tie down their academy graduates, handing long-term deals to Mason Mount, Reece James, Gilmour, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Fikayo Tomori and Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the past 12 months. However negotiations have been trickier with Abraham, who has seen the club give Hudson-Odoi a deal worth £120,000 a week and James around £100,000 a week. He wants similar financial rewards after a fine campaign.
Chelsea are confident of agreeing a long-term deal with Abraham, even though his place will come under threat next season after the signing of Timo Werner from RB Leipzig. Abraham remains a big part of Frank Lampard’s plans despite going nine Premier League games without finding the net before scoring the decisive goal against Crystal Palace on Tuesday.
There was less positive news for Lampard after Gilmour’s season was ended by the torn meniscus that forced him off against Palace after 80 minutes. “I saw it happen midway through the first half,” Chelsea’s manager said. “As he crouched down I saw his reaction as he got up, had a bit of a grimace.”
Jorginho made his first appearance of Project Restart after replacing Gilmour against Palace and the midfielder could be given a chance to impress when Chelsea visit Sheffield United on Saturday. Mateo Kovacic is in the squad after recovering from an achilles problem but N’Golo Kanté is still out with a hamstring injury and Lampard has been pleased with Jorginho’s response to losing his place.
“A good professional will be unhappy they’re not playing but deal with it in the right way, which he has done,” Lampard said. “He’s been a big influence this season. Jorginho knows I’m always ready to talk. I’ve got a very good relationship with him. I know I can rely on Jorginho when he plays at any moment.”