Michael Owen believes former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham is in 'pole position' to be Harry Kane's back up for England at the World Cup this winter.
Abraham left the Blues last summer to join Jose Mourinho at Roma and went on to score 17 goals in 37 Serie A appearances. The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move back to the Premier League but not to return to Stamford Bridge, but instead move to north London and join Arsenal.
Abraham is reportedly a transfer target for the Gunners as Mikel Arteta looks to add attacking reinforcements to his squad after the departure of both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette in the last six months. Owen spoke ahead of England's Nations League fixture against Italy at Molineux and claimed Abraham is ahead of the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Ollie Watkins in the pecking order to be Kane's deputy should the England captain not be available.
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Speaking to Channel 4 ahead of England's clash against Italy, Owen said: "I think when you think of the alternatives, you have the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ollie Watkins and Patrick Bamford. I think Abraham, based on what he has done this season in the Italian league, he is in pole position to be back up for Harry Kane."
England play Italy for the first time since the Three Lions suffered penalty shootout heartbreak in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley. Owen continued: "He [Abraham] is a goal scorer and some of the names I have mentioned, you think, do they score enough goals?
"Probably not at the moment. I think he is the first choice to replace Harry Kane should England need him heading into the World Cup."
Chelsea added a clause into Abraham's contract that gives the Blues the option to buy him back for £70million from July 2023. Arsenal are in the market for a new forward to lead the line with Gabriel Jesus, Gianluca Scamacca and Victor Osimhen all being reported as potential transfer targets for Arteta and Edu this summer.
