Arsenal handed welcome Tammy Abraham boost as rivals pull out of Chelsea transfer battle

Transfer update: Arsenal 'plan' player-plus-cash Maddison move

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Arsenal have been handed an unlikely welcome transfer boost from the most surprising Premier League signing of the transfer window so far. Aston Villa shocked fans by announcing the signing of striker Danny Ings on a three-year deal from Southampton.

Ings brings a wealth of Premier League experience and goal scoring prowess to Villa Park, but his move to the Midlands almost certainly spells an end to the club’s striker search.

Namely, Tammy Abraham, who has been strongly linked to a return to Villa where he scored 26 goals in the 2018/19 season to help them get promoted back to the Premier League. 

But Villa’s under-the-radar signing frees up Arsenal’s pursuit of the Chelsea forward, who fell out of favour under new boss Thomas Tuchel last season. 

While fans at Arsenal will consider the Emirates a bigger draw, Emi Buendia was said to have chosen Villa Park over north London after signing from Norwich City earlier this summer. 

Mikel Arteta was believed to be keen on the Championship player of the season, but Villa are proving ambitious in the market and quickly wrapped up the playmaker’s services.

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A similar story could have unfolded with Abraham, who became an instant-fan favourite with the Villains and could have preferred a move there rather than to Chelsea’s London rivals Arsenal. 

However, Arsenal now have the chance to accelerate their striker search with Abraham, and it has already become apparent that Tuchel is willing to let the England international go.

Despite being the top scorer at the club when Tuchel took charge, Abraham played just 17 minutes in the final three months of the season. 

Much to his frustration, he was also left out of the Champions League final winning squad against Manchester City in Porto.

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Interestingly, Abraham scored at the Emirates in a pre-season friendly on Sunday to remind Gunners boss Arteta how effective he could be leading the line ahead of Alexandre Lacazette this season. 

But there is a chance the 2-2 draw with Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham on Wednesday could have been his Stamford Bridge goodbye. 

The Evening Standard reports Chelsea value Abraham at £40m and Arsenal are interested in a move for the 23-year-old. 

A transfer could seriously benefit both clubs, with Arsenal signing a promising young English striker yet to reach his full potential.

And Chelsea could reinvest the potential funds into an elite striker of their own such as Romelu Lukaku, who continues to be linked from Inter Milan. 

However, Arsenal could be battling against Inter Serie A rivals Atalanta for Abraham’s signature. 

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims Atalanta are willing to open talks with Chelsea for the forward and are ready to offer €40m if Inter sign their star striker Duvan Zapata as a possible Lukaku replacement. 

The knock-on effect of Chelsea’s striker chase could affect the Gunners, who will need to act fast to snap up the player who looks surplus to requirements in west London.

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