Late in the 2024 summer transfer window, AS Roma and AC Milan agreed a loan swap deal for Tammy Abraham and Alexis Saelemaekers.
The deal came about in a bit of a hurry, given that it was initially believed that a permanent swap was being evaluated earlier in the mercato before eventually it was completed close to the final gong via the formula of a dry loan exchange.
Abraham was ready for his first full season back after a serious injury, while Saelemaekers was fresh from another loan spell at Bologna. How did both of them fare in their respective switches? It was a season of two halves for both.
Abraham got 10 goals and seven assists from 44 games for Milan, which isn’t a terrible return given he was often second or even third choice. Saelemaekers got seven goals and seven assists in 31 games for Roma, and had a resurgence in 2025 under Claudio Ranieri.
It was being reported that the capital club were eager to make the Belgian’s stay a permanent one. However, in the past 24 hours various sources have claimed that the Diavolo have ended the talks and will now consider using him in 2025-26.
We spoke to Samuel Bannister from Giallorossi Yorkshire – who has also been kind enough to help us out in previous pre-match previews – to get his thoughts on the seasons that both had.
Did Alexis Saelemaekers meet, exceed or fall below expectations?
“Being a signing that arrived quite late in the window, there wasn’t too much time to build up expectations before he joined Roma. On first glance, though, it looked like a useful deal thanks to his versatility and the fact that he’d helped Bologna finish above Roma the previous season on his past loan spell.
“I would say Roma’s subsequent shift to a back three formation under Claudio Ranieri helped Alexis surpass expectations, as he was useful either as a wing-back or further forward. Some of the roles he ended up playing in didn’t really exist in the system he signed up to be part of, but that structure allowed him to showcase his best qualities.
“He provided a useful impact in terms of goal contributions, even if starting as a wing-back. The only player with more combined goals and assists than him was the top scorer Artem Dovbyk, and let’s not forget Saelemaekers missed a portion of the season – an entire managerial era, in fact, since he was never available for Ivan Juric – through injury.
“For a side who finished one point outside the top four, I can’t help but wonder if having Saelemaekers available then, as much as we were otherwise struggling, might have helped us get the extra point or two we could have achieved something special with.”
What was his high point during the loan spell?
“For any player to score in a derby – whether that’s the Rome or Milan one – is a surefire way to endear themselves to the club they’re representing, so naturally Saelemaekers’ goal against Lazio in January springs to mind. He got an assist in that game too.
“But he scored some even better goals in terms of technique – I think of his volley against Parma and his left-footed curler against Monza.”
Would you take Tammy Abraham back?
“This might be controversial among Roma fans, especially non-English ones since some of us from over here still have a soft spot for him, but I wouldn’t rule it out depending on the new coach. It’s fair to say we only saw the best of Abraham in his first season with us and that’s a while ago now, but we’ll have to see what the coach wants from his strikers next season.
“Artem Dovbyk got a decent goal return but struggled to contribute in general play and wasn’t as mobile as Tammy would be. Abraham would need to be more clinical if he was to return but I can still think of worse strikers to have.
“That said, if the right offer arrives or Dovbyk stays – from a wage perspective it’s hard to imagine them coexisting – the time would be right for Tammy to find a new challenge elsewhere.”
Would you want to sign Saelemaekers permanently?
“This would be a less controversial call: yes. I’ve always admired Saelemaekers and seeing him in action for Roma has only convinced me further.
“Once again, it depends on the new coach’s plans, but he’s versatile enough to fit into almost any system. He’s inspired us this season with his involvement in attack, so it would be a shame to lose that.”
If the deals had been permanent in the first place as originally planned, which club would be happier now?
“From a Roma perspective, if we could only have one of Abraham or Saelemaekers next season, it would definitely be Alexis. Ergo, Roma would have been the happier club.
“Efforts to offload Abraham after his downturn in form and injury have been complicated, so it would have been one less thing to worry about ahead of the transfer window.
“Saelemaekers seems to have enjoyed his time in Rome and from the fans’ perspective, it would be nice for it to continue.
“There’s also the factor that he might cost more this summer after his form than he would have if the deals were permanent last year, so Roma would have been more glad to have got it wrapped up back then. If the cost isn’t too much – I think €15m, give or take, would be reasonable – he’s worth keeping now.”
If we play with wing backs bring Salamakers back.
Dobvyk 21 goal contributions (4 penalties) for Roma in 3195 minutes,
Tammy Abraham 17 goal contributions (1 penalty) for Milan in 1757 minutes.
Last summer people said that Roma is signing a great striker while Milan is helping them get rid of their deadwood. If you take away the penalties, Tammy had the same productions in almost half the minutes played.
Saelemaekers 14 goal contributions for Roma and constant running, pressing, tracking back in 1885 minutes.
Bring Saelamaekers back.
Milan will need a player on the wing that will have to step up and produce when we know who, will be “badly handled”, have a bad relationship and be “betrayed’ by yet another coach. After all it must be the coaches fault, not the player.
You’re forgetting that if there’s one thing Allegri likes, it’s players who run and run.
Bring Saele back if the formation is 3-4-3. It’s not even a question what his qualities are as a RWB. If the formation is 4-2-3-1 then I would prefer Tammy. Tammy should stay either way
Neither….
Salamanders.. I like buts his cycle past.. and we e could use his fund
I agree but I don’t see Roma paying 25 mill for him, maybe another club like fenerbache
If tammy want to reduce his salary from 5m euro nett to 3-4m euro nett just swap him with saele. Allegri will use 352 and santi – tammy or tammy – leao infront, he is also good as supersub. Salad position RWB already covered with jimenez, terraciano and maybe yunus musah . The real problem are contract for mike & theo, still not sure if both are stay or leave, if both leave that will create hole for LWB & GK because new player that replace them need adaptation again
the belgian is better so far than any available rt. side player
milan should keep him and release the joke emerson