For Chelsea supporters, it must be almost impossible to keep track of who is staying, who is going, who might arrive and who might yet depart.
During a typically hectic start to yet another transfer window, Enzo Maresca’s side have already spent over £50 million while bringing in four new players; Tosin Adaraibioyo, Omari Kellyman, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Marc Guiu.
Arrivals usually go hand-in-hand with departures, however.
Hakim Ziyech departs Stamford Bridge on a permanent basis alongside Ian Maatsen – to Aston Villa – and Omari Hutchinson, the winger who sealed his return to newly-promoted Ipswich Town.
And with two months of the window still remaining, Trevoh Chalobah, Ben Chilwell, Conor Gallagher, Nicolas Jackson and Armando Broja are among those who’s futures are also uncertain.
HITC understands Chelsea are open to selling Jackson, just one year after this very hit-and-miss centre-forward joined in a £27 million deal from Villarreal.
Broja, having spent the second half of last season on loan at Fulham, is another likely to be sold if the price is right. The striker’s reported £50 million price-tag, per The Telegraph, may provided a sizeable stumbling block but that has not stopped links with AC Milan emerging.
And a move from Stamford Bridge to San Siro is one that would be well received back home in Albania.
Armando Broja tipped to leave Chelsea for AC Milan
“Armando is certainly one of the greatest talents in the entire history of Albanian football,” says Armand Duka, the president of the nation’s football federation, speaking to Sport Italia.
“I am a Milan fan, and if Broja arrived at Milanello I would be doubly happy. It would undoubtedly be the best and strongest move that Milan could make in the summer market.
“The boy has incredible talent and I think he hasn’t shown his best yet. He needs to play at club level and I think Serie A and Milan represent an excellent opportunity for him to climb to the top of European football.
“He will be one of the best strikers in Europe. I am convinced that he is ready to try an experience in Italian football.
“And, if it happens, I think it will be a success.”
Broja’s time at Fulham may have been a disappointment but a similar loan spell at Southampton in 2021/22 showed what the youngster can do.
A superb ball-carrier blessed with searing pace and terrific dribbling ability, Broja was a revelation on the South Coast with pundits such as Martin Keown tipping him for a very bright future.
Speaking last week to RTV Klan, meanwhile, the Slough-born 22-year-old admitted that he had offers on the table from the Premier League as well as Italy’s Serie A and the German Bundesliga.
Marc Guiu arrives from Barcelona
Should Broja stay put, he is likely to find game time even more restricted after Chelsea brought in one of Europe’s most exciting young number nines in former Barcelona starlet Guiu.
“He’s a sensational boy, a hard worker, an example as a team-mate for his effort and dedication,” Ivan Carrasco, Guiu’s former Barcelona youth coach, tells Diario Sport.
“He is a pure centre-forward. A classic (number) nine. A specialist in the area who lives by his physical power. His best virtue is his aerial play. Marc is also very quick and powerful, he is unstoppable with space.
“He is not a striker who can drop to the flanks or stands out for his combination play,” Carrasco adds of a teenager who became the youngest ever Barca player to score on his La Liga debut last year. “But he is aware of his strengths and limitations and knows how to focus on his strengths and hide his flaws.
“Another of his virtues is his great ability to fight for every ball and press like an animal. Defenders are not comfortable with such a hard-working striker profile.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
