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Timo Werner transfer could be major boost for Tammy Abraham in Chelsea contract talks
Tammy Abraham could benefit from Timo Werner's expected arrival at Chelsea by negotiating a more favourable contract at Stamford Bridge.
Tammy Abraham discusses his development at Chelsea
Tammy Abraham is yet to agree a new contract with Chelsea but could be handed some vital leverage in the form of Timo Werner's arrival at Stamford Bridge. The German international is expected to move to west London this summer after the Blues agreed to pay his £53million release clause at RB Leipzig.
While there are suggestions Werner's arrival could be bad news for Abraham, the 22-year-old could actually benefit financially from the potential new signing.
Abraham has two years left to run on his current contract with Chelsea but reportedly turned down a new deal earlier this season.
The striker is believed to want a package that is comparable to Callum Hudson-Odoi's £120,000-a-week salary, having spearheaded the Blues attack this term.
Chelsea want to keep Abraham long-term and view him as a key player for the future, but were apparently unwilling to meet these wage demands.
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However, The Athletic suggest that Werner's supposed salary of £170,00-a-week plus bonuses will set a new benchmark at Stamford Bridge.
Abraham will be able to use this deal, which would easily make Werner the best-paid player at the club, as a yardstick to base future negotiations around.
The frontman has 15 goals in 34 appearances this season and will want to add to that tally during the final weeks of the campaign in order to hammer home his value to the Chelsea hierarchy.
The latest report says negotiations over Abraham's new contract have already taken longer than the club expected, while the England international could hold off until he sees how his game time will be impacted by Werner.
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On paper, the proposed move looks like bad news for Abraham with the academy graduate expected to slip down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.
But The Athletic suggest that Christian Pulisic is actually the player most in danger of being marginalised by Werner's arrival.
The USA winger had been set to compete with Callum Hudson-Odoi on the left flank next season, but the pair now find their places under even more threat with Werner capable of playing as a left-sided forward.
Werner has been prolific for Leipzig this season, scoring 31 goals in 41 outings across all competitions.
He has often been deployed off central striker Yussuf Poulsen, meaning Abraham could imitate the Denmark international in a similar role.
Chelsea want Abraham to be pushed and challenged for his role in the starting XI, thereby driving his development.
And with the Blues set to qualify for Champions League football, there is plenty of incentive to stick things out at Stamford Bridge and fight for his place.
As for Pulisic, the youngster can take heart from the fact that veteran wingers Pedro and Willian are both expected to leave the club when their contracts expire this summer.
A host of other players are likely to depart as Lampard carries out a squad overhaul, but a new left-back centre-back and wide midfielder are also being targeted.