Abraham set to snub Aston Villa loan transfer to push for more Chelsea playing time

Tammy Abraham is poised to reject a loan move to Aston Villa — and fight for his place at Chelsea.

The 20-year-old England international striker has been farmed out for the past two seasons, and is in two minds about whether to accept an offer from Villa boss Steve Bruce.

Part of Abraham’s thinking is that he does not want to drop back into the Championship after spending last term in the Premier League at Swansea.

Abraham has already tasted life in the second tier with Bristol City in 2016-17, and does not think the switch will advance his career.

Villa have been in touch with Chelsea over the forward, who was reportedly the subject of a deadline-day £25million offer from top-flight Tottenham.

Ironically, that bid may have been in response to Villa’s refusal to play ball over the transfer of their own star-in-the-making Jack Grealish.

However, they are finding it hard to persuade Abraham, who flourished at Ashton Gate with 23 league goals.

Having netted eight times for the Swans last term, along with picking up two caps under Gareth Southgate, he is eager to see if he can cut it at his parent club.

At present, the hitman finds himself third in the pecking order behind Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud.

But Giroud has been the subject of speculation since new boss Maurizio Sarri arrived at the club that he is not favoured by the Italian.

That may be influencing Abraham’s take on the matter, but with the transfer window in Europe not due to close until Friday that situation could change permanently with Marseille having had a long-term interest in the former Arsenal man.

That uncertainty may force Bruce to make in-form Jonathan Kodjia his main spearhead after the forward came through an injury-plagued 2017-18 campaign to start this one with a flurry of goals.