Fulham continuing talks to sign £35 million Chelsea forward

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• EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

HITC Football understands that Fulham are continuing talks with Armando Broja as they look to try and seal a deal for the Albanian.

Fulham are hoping to pull off a remarkable deal and sources have confirmed to HITC that Chelsea would be willing to loan the Albanian without a buy option.

However, the stumbling block on this deal is the loan fee that the Blues are demanding with £5 million being the asking price but, perhaps unsurprisingly, nobody is willing to go near that figure.

Since excelling on loan for Southampton, Armando Broja has hardly had a sniff of game time at Chelsea under multiple different managers, with just 25 Premier League appearances across two seasons, and it appears a move away from Stamford Bridge is in the offing.

Chelsea have made multiple big-name signings in the last couple of transfer windows but it seems like the aim of this one is to trim the rather bloated squad.

Broja deal

Sources understand that Chelsea have made it clear they will allow Broja to leave on Thursday, however, if it is to be a permanent deal they would want a fee worth at least £35million increasing to more than £40million – something that nobody has been willing to do.

Fulham aren’t the only side who have shown interest in the exciting forward with Aston Villa and Wolves previously being credited with an interest.

Gary O’Neil’s side saw their loan offer rejected for the 22-year-old, whilst Villa and David Moyes’ West Ham United were in contact with the Blues but backed away from any potential deal due to the asking price.

With just hours to go in the January transfer window, the West London side will have to get a move on if they are to complete a deal for the Albanian forward.

Talks continuing

Sources have confirmed that although Chelsea turned down Fulham’s original loan proposal for Broja, the two clubs remain locked in talks to try and find a resolution.

During Broja’s time at St Mary’s, he netted six times for the Saints in 32 appearances and he could be an interesting signing made by Marco Silva if they can pull it off.

With the window slamming shut later this evening, however, the West London side will have to get a move on.