Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham discusses future amid £15m Leicester links

Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham has reiterated a desire to play in the Premier League, although it is not certain where he will be playing his football in 2017-18. A truly prolific talent at youth level, the 19-year-old has netted 22 goals in 42 appearances during a maiden season-long loan spell away from Stamford Bridge with Championship strugglers Bristol City.

Abraham's impressive exploits in the West Country appear to have caught the eye of last season's top-flight champions, with The Sun recently reporting that Leicester City are lining up a summer move for his services and, while also potentially interested in a loan, could submit a permanent bid worth approximately £15m ($18.6m).

It is further suggested that Foxes boss Craig Shakespeare, apparently eager to bolster his squad with the addition of a new forward, recently sent former Barnsley and Bury boss David Flitcroft to watch the player in action.

Much presumably depends on whether or not Claudio Ranieri's former assistant is permitted to remain in his current role beyond the end of the current campaign.

Speaking on his future during an interview with the Bristol Post, Abraham, who is believed to earn around £25,000 a week at Chelsea, said: "It's something that's played with my mind. I've asked myself the same question and I'll ask my parents and see what my agents are saying but I think I need to get through this season first and finish on a high.

"It would obviously be a dream for me to be playing in the Premier League but I have to focus here first. I love this club, I like to give my all and show everyone what I'm really made of. Not just the goals, but my desire to help this team to stay in the division."

While there is sure to be no shortage of interest in Abraham's signature over the coming months, it could be that Chelsea opt to hand him a place in their first-team squad. Doubt remain over the future of Diego Costa and Michy Batshuayi has been restricted to a peripheral role since completing a £33m switch from Marseille in July 2016.

"Abraham is another young player who is the future for Chelsea, for sure," Conte said back in October. "He's very young. I saw him only one week during the pre-season in America. Then we decided to send him to play every game and get experience, then come back for us. He has great potential in the technical and physical aspects."