Who Is Tammy Abraham and What Sort of Future Does He Have at Chelsea?

Chelsea's academy is no different to other elite clubs across the continent.

Packed full of talented young stars, the problem is how to integrate them into the first-team. As we know, the gulf in class from youth to senior football is significant, and for the vast majority, that gap proves too overwhelming to bridge.

Take Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Despite his undoubted talents, the 19-year-old is still to establish himself at Stamford Bridge.

It's not because he isn't good enough, but more to do with those players ahead of him. He's competing with FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League winners, players who have the sort of experience every elite team needs to sustain success.

There's an argument to suggest Chelsea's struggles this term mean he should be given an opportunity as those bigger names ahead of him simply haven't performed.

From Jose Mourinho's perspective, the concern is that a reliance on youth could make Chelsea's situation all the more difficult.

Throughout the Chelsea dressing room, that hurdle exists in almost every position. Any young goalkeeper must come up against Thibaut Courtois; defenders face the task of dislodging Kurt Zouma, Gary Cahill and John Terry.

Ian Walton/Getty Images

As Loftus-Cheek has found to his detriment, it's the same in midfield.

Up front, however, it's different. Chelsea's options are limited and it gives some hope for Tammy Abraham that he can benefit from it. Dominic Solanke, too.

If you haven't heard Abraham's name before, don't fuss—you soon will.

Alongside Solanke, the young Englishman is one of the Premier League's most prolific up-and-coming strikers.

Last season alone, he smashed home an incredible 41 goals across the various age groups in Chelsea's development squads.

The 18-year-old found the back of the net four times in seven UEFA Youth League appearances, proving equally prolific for the under-18s side that won the FA Youth Cup, scoring 32 goals in 26 matches.

Harold Cunningham/Getty Images

Abraham's stats were eye-catching as he averaged just shy of a goal a game (0.93). That's impressive enough, but to come over such a high number of matches makes it even more so. He was outstanding all season.

It wasn't just flat-track bully stuff, either, as we're seeing this year.

Making the step up to become a regular with the under-21s—the level directly below senior football in England—Abraham's form hasn't been damaged. He has 14 goals in 17 games for Adi Viveash's side this season and is flying.

Too often we see young players make that step up in age groups and struggle, but Abraham is showing the same form as Solanke—currently on loan at Vitesse Arnhem—and looks unfazed.

Which brings us to the first-team at Chelsea.

Abraham is a long way off becoming a regular at Stamford Bridge, but it's clear Mourinho has issues with those front options at his disposal.

Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images

The gamble on Radamel Falcao has backfired spectacularly, while Loic Remy and Diego Costa have scored a mere six goals between them all season.

If that continues, Chelsea's struggles will this season. It's a simple fact.

What that means for the summer is anyone's guess, but reinforcements needed across Mourinho's squad mean the manager isn't going to be free to use just the transfer market to rebuild his attack.

Put simply, he'll need to look from within to add more depth.

Solanke's year in the Netherlands puts him ahead of Abraham in the pecking order, but Chelsea's other promising young frontman isn't going to be too far off if his form continues like it is.

Being that third-choice striker at Chelsea is ideal. It doesn't guarantee a place on the bench every week, let alone a start, yet it's that vital first step to shedding the youth team tag.

It's what Chelsea should have done with Patrick Bamford this season, but instead, they opted for a tired former great in his place—who has done much less than we would have expected.

Mourinho need only look across London to see what a homegrown forward can do to a club. Harry Kane isn't just scoring goals for Tottenham Hotspur, he has helped galvanise Mauricio Pochettino's side and deliver on his mandate.

The stakes are much higher at Chelsea. Premier League titles and other silverware aren't just desired,  they're demanded. It means the bar is raised and failure comes at a much bigger cost, and that restricts the chances young players are given.

Like the case of Kane and Pochettino, though, the goals Abraham is scoring will mean the time will come when Mourinho can't ignore him any longer.

This is a kid going places, and Chelsea fans should hope that means the club goes there with him.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes