Abraham has scored 13 times in the English top-flight and his form has seen him push his way to Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
Nevertheless, the group now occupying fourth place in the Premier League are watching for attacking reinforcements. Moves failed to materialise but the fact Moussa Dembélé, Edinson Cavani and Luka Jović were apparently on Chelsea’s radar indicates a centre-forward is on their transfer wishlist.
Abraham recently revealed he would have enjoyed Cavani to join him:”The players we had been talking about coming, such as Cavani and other top-class strikers, have been around in the game for several years. It would have been nice if he’d come.
“He’d have been someone I could have heard from and stolen his ideas to grow my own. It did not happen though and for me it gives me that extra push and desire to maintain my position and function as best as I can.
“Playing for a club such as Chelsea, there’s always going to be pressure. For me, it’s about being in the right place at the ideal time and believing in myself and my abilities also. I am certain that I will score a couple more. I enjoy the pressure and I perform under pressure.”
On the surface, a move for another senior striker, one that might see Abraham benched, looks harsh given his performances this year.
However, Chelsea No.9 has netted only once in 2020 and the Blues have picked up maximum points on just one event since the turn of this year.
Lampard’s guys are still scoring, they have scored four goals in their last two outings, but this return has led to winning two points. Abraham’s inexperience is showing and it may be costly.
While his record of 0.61 goals per 90 is remarkable, his post-shot expected goals average tells another story. You are then able to determine which players add value to their shots and that doesn’t.
Significantly down on his true goal return. It shows he’s overperforming, as all elite forward tend to perform, but his finishing has to be worked on. The difference between these two amounts is six goals over a 38-game season.
His finishing is a concern but it’s the chances he’s passing up that should worry Chelsea fans. Match of the Day emphasized it on Saturday and it’s hard to overlook.
Chelsea needed two set-pieces to discover a way back in Leicester on Saturday to create decent openings in open-play. Abraham’s limitations are beginning to show and it can cost the Blues a place in the Champions League next year. They ought to stick with him as he will probably improve with experience. But they could have done with a short-term increase during the January window.
