Tammy Abraham has reportedly hit an impasse in his contract negotiations with Chelsea, who have allegedly balked at the striker’s salary demands at Stamford Bridge, per Goal’s Nizaar Kinsella.
It’s understood Abraham, 22, is asking to be paid the same as 19-year-old teammate Callum Hudson-Odoi, who signed a new five-year deal in September worth $157,000 per week ($236,000 per week including bonuses).
Frank Lampard’s striker has been one of the happy by-products of Chelsea’s summer transfer ban, flourishing up front for his boyhood club after being granted the reins in attack. Abraham has a career-best 12 goals in the Premier League this season—only Jamie Vardy (17) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (13) have more.
The England international currently earns around $65,500 (£50,000) per week at Stamford Bridge, though he stands to double or triple his earnings if his next contract can compete with Hudson-Odoi’s terms.
Hudson-Odoi had entered the final year of his previous contract and was being linked with a cut-price move to Bayern Munich when he extended his stay.
Abraham’s current deal isn’t due to expire until June 2022, which works against the player despite his blossoming form in England’s top flight.
The Blues could even welcome a new headline name in attack this January if they dip into the winter transfer marker, having seen their transfer ban for the alleged signing of minors reduced.
Abraham has another two-and-a-half years to run on his current agreement, though the striker may need to sustain his scoring success before he draws level with the top earners.
