Glen Johnson has urged Chelsea not to make a summer move for former striker Tammy Abraham.
Goals have been a major problem for the Blues this season, with just 29 scored in 30 Premier League games and it has left the club, now on their third manager of the campaign, 11th in the table.
Despite Todd Boehly spending in the region of £600million across two transfer windows, an out-and-out striker has not been the focus. Chelsea have a huge array of wide players to choose from, but have opted for Kai Havertz through the middle with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of favour.
Before his departure, Graham Potter suggested Romelu Lukaku, currently on loan at Inter Milan, could return to the Chelsea first-team next season, though that is now likely to depend on who takes permanent charge at Stamford Bridge.
Abraham, who left the club to join Roma for £34 million in 2021, has been put forward as another potential option, with Chelsea having a buyback option in the region of £70m. However, Johnson believes that move would be too risky for his former side.
“To go and pay big money to bring an ex-player back, and then it doesn’t work would be super embarrassing,” Johnson told DAZN Bet.
“I’m not saying it won’t work, but if they get it wrong with somebody else who hasn’t played for them before, that embarrassment isn’t there.
“I just think it is so risky, almost like going back to a lit firework. But Tammy is banging in goals, playing well and looking really confident so you could understand why they would have their eye on him.”
Havertz is Chelsea’s top scorer this season across all competitions with nine goals, and Raheem Sterling is the only other Blues player to have managed more than three.
The German has not convinced on a regular basis as Chelsea’s main man up front though, and Johnson has claimed a move back to the Bundesliga could be the best option for the 23-year-old.
“I don’t think he really suits the Premier League,” Johnson said.
“Everything he does is so slow and lethargic and, although he is a very technical player, it helps when you’re in the Bundesliga playing for a top team and doing everything really methodically with more time afforded on the ball.
“I also think he would bite your arm off to go back to Germany, so if Chelsea have to get rid of a marquee name this summer, I think it will be him.”
