Chelsea have signed Timo Werner from RB Leipzig and Abraham is concerned his place in the starting XI is under threat.
However, According to transfer expert Ian McGarry, Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham has refused talks over a new contract because he wants assurances over his game time under Frank Lampard.
Abraham is Chelsea’s top scorer in all competitions this season with 16 goals but he has started just two games since the restart with Lampard preferring Olivier Giroud.
“First of all we go to Stamford Bridge where Tammy Abraham, Chelsea’s England striker, has turned down the opportunity. interestingly. of talks to extend his contract,” McGarry said on the Transfer Window podcast. “The striker seems to be in no hurry to get a pay rise unusually, given that he is relatively lowly-paid regarding other players in the team.
“This is because he activated, by appearances and goals, an extra year on his current five-year deal just in the last seven days but since the restart has not featured as the first-choice for Frank Lampard, and with the signing of Timo Werner, he’s unsure exactly of his game time and indeed his position in the pecking order at Chelsea next season.
“Now, despite the fact he has two years left, as I said he’s been offered the opportunity and his representatives to talk to Chelsea with regards to a significant pay rise as well as a further extension on the current deal.
“However, Abraham wants to see first of all where he stands, after all he started the season as the undisputed No 1 choice to play up front but that has changed in the last few weeks.
“So now he obviously wants to assess exactly where he stands with regards to what happens next season.” “This is an unusual situation for a young player like Abraham,” he added.
“In the last six months we have seen other players of a similar age, Mason Mount, [Callum] Hudson-Odoi, upgrade their contracts and sign longer extensions and indeed move on to double their salaries, so why not Abraham?”