Tammy Abraham has snubbed Arsenal for Jose Mourinho before but Chelsea striker urged to join Gunners or Tottenham over Roma – ‘He’s at that level’

Tammy Abraham has never played for Jose Mourinho - and yet their careers are intrinsically linked.

Amid reports of a move to Roma, the Chelsea striker looks set to join a new club for just the second time in his life, and both have been managed by Mourinho at the time of his decision.

3

What's more, 16 years separate Abraham joining Chelsea as a boy and leaving, but Arsenal looked like the frontrunners on both occasions before being beaten to the Englishman.

That's despite the 23-year-old growing up in a family full of Arsenal fans.

The Gunners looked certain to sign a seven-year-old Abraham for their academy before Chelsea swooped in - and it looks like he's snubbed them again.

Arsenal were thought to be keen on signing Abraham this summer before Roma agreed a £34million deal.

BETTING SPECIAL - GET £60 IN FREE BETS FOR THE NEW PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON

3

Ironically, Mourinho was in charge of Chelsea in 2005 when they snatched Abraham from Arsenal's grasp the first time around.

Even his second spell in charge of the Blues was too early to actually pick the striker, but Mourinho will have watched Abraham grow up right before his eyes.

After getting his debut under Frank Lampard, Abraham bagged 21 goals in 56 Premier League games over two seasons to prove his capability at top-flight level.

Thomas Tuchel's arrival has all-but signalled the end of his Stamford Bridge career - and many have interpreted Abraham's impending exit to signal a lack of quality.

DREAM TEAM IS BACK!

3

But former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan insists that's not true and questions why Arsenal, or even Tottenham, didn't go harder in a bid to sign Abraham.

He told talkSPORT: "Tammy Abraham gets worse in people's eyes when he doesn't play because people ask, 'Why isn't he playing?'

"He's a good player. He scores just about a goal every two games in every format. If he's loved and looked after, put into a team that affords him the opportunity to be regularly playing, I think he'll get a lot of goals.

"At £34m, why aren't Arsenal or Tottenham wanting to buy a player like this? Going to Roma looks like a good move, it puts him in the space of Mourinho, there's a link there.

Dream Team 2021/22 - SIGN UP NOW

PLAY DREAM TEAM FOR THE 2021/22 SEASON!

• £100,000 in prize money up for grabs
• £50million budget to build your best XI
• Play in Mini Leagues against your mates, colleagues, etc
• Dream Team app available through Apple Store and Google Play Store

"I think the boy should be playing in England for an Arsenal or a Tottenham.

"If you look at his record at Chelsea, it shows he's not far from that level.

"He's got to leave Chelsea, there are no two ways about it. If they've signed Lukaku and they're not getting rid of Werner, he's not going to play.

"From those I speak to about him, he's not a problem, he's not difficult, he just doesn't fit the model of what this manager wants."

DREAM TEAM IS BACK!