Former West Ham United striker Carlton Cole knows all about crossing the divide from Chelsea to the Hammers.
How Moyes must line up against Chelsea with two big changes
The forward was heralded the next big thing when he came through the ranks at Stamford Bridge.
But Cole opted to follow his own path and found a home across London at Chelsea’s fierce rivals West Ham.
Cole knows all about the pressures of being a striker graduating from Chelsea’s academy to the first team – and moving to play for West Ham.
Cole uniquely placed to offer Abraham advice over leaving Chelsea for West Ham
So he is uniquely placed to comment on intense speculation that Chelsea outcast Tammy Abraham is West Ham’s prime striker target this summer.
The Daily Star and West Ham insider ExWHUemployee have claimed Abraham is one of David Moyes’s key targets this summer.
Respected Stratford-based Telegraph journalist Matt Law, who has close ties at Chelsea, first claimed West Ham are interested in signing Abraham.
Abraham, 23, has been frozen out at Chelsea since Thomas Tuchel’s arrival.
And Tuchel has admitted there is no easy way back for the West Ham target at Chelsea (The Guardian).
That has intensified speculation Abraham will be sold this summer with West Ham – and others – reportedly waiting in the wings.
Cole says Moyes striker target would be ‘perfect fit’ for Hammers and backs outcast for move
Now Cole has said Abraham would be ‘perfect’ for West Ham.
And he has told the striker to ‘go his own way’ and sign for the Hammers this summer (Bookmakers.co.uk).
“If he was to come to West Ham, I’d welcome him with open arms,” Cole told Bookmakers.co.uk.
“He would be the perfect person to lead that front line. We’ve got Michail Antonio there, who is a top player, but Tammy could come in and challenge for that place and that’s what West Ham need, there’s no one to challenge Antonio. Tammy would be perfect.
“I’ve always liked a technical big striker and he could be the ideal fit for West Ham because they can play a bit of football this team, and he’d fit straight in, especially if we can keep (Jesse) Lingard.
‘It worked out for me when I went to West Ham’
“I could have stayed at Chelsea when I was younger, not a lot of people know that – they asked me to stay – but I wanted to go and better myself.
“I would have been staying only to go on loan, but I didn’t want to do that anymore, I was sick of it, I wanted to call somewhere home.
“Does Tammy want the same?
“I don’t know, only he can answer that question. Hopefully he makes the right decision for himself and his family.
“Having been in the same situation, I found pastures new elsewhere because that’s what I felt I needed, and it worked out for me when I went to West Ham.”
West Ham set to seal £21.5m deal according to journalist
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
