Southampton ask Chelsea for Tammy Abraham loan transfer to replace Danny Ings – but Blues demand £40m transfer fee

SOUTHAMPTON have asked Chelsea for Tammy Abraham on loan – but have been told he is only available on a permanent transfer.

Unless that stance changes, that is likely to kill off any hopes Ralph Hasenhuttl has of replacing Danny Ings with fellow England star Abraham.

The Blues value Abraham, 23, at £40million but are yet to have any takers at that price.

Hasenhuttl wanted a new forward anyway but signing a striker is now a major priority after Wednesday night’s shock sale of Ings to Aston Villa.

Dean Smith bagged Ings in a deal that could rise up to £30m as Saints decided to cash in on their star man.

Ings, 29, only had a year left on his contract and was refusing to sign a new one.

Blackburn forward Adam Armstrong, 24, has long been on Saints’ radar but Rovers’ £25m valuation is too high.

Armstrong, who bagged 29 Championship goals last term, also only has a year remaining on his contract so there is hope a compromise can be reached on the fee.

Premier League new-boys Norwich are also very keen on the ex-Newcastle kid.

Ings’ move to Villa Park caught nearly everyone by surprise – including his own Saints’ team-mates.

Speaking after last night’s 1-0 friendly win over Levante, midfielder Oriol Romeu said: “I just found out after the game! We said this morning that he wasn’t there, I thought he had something with his back.

“Apparently he’s moved to Villa! He’s been great for us. We wish him all the best. He’s probably going to do a great job over there. He’s a great lad. An amazing player.”

Meanwhile, Saints have been hit with the blow that ever-present James Ward-Prowse is set to miss the first game of the season against Everton with a knee injury.

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The England midfielder played every single minute of last term in the Premier League.

Boss Hasenhuttl said: “We don’t want to take any risks with his knee. It will take time and I am not so sure that he will make the opener against Everton.”

Ward-Prowse, 26, was the subject of a failed £25m bid from Aston Villa last month.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk