You’d need more paper than the entire stock of Clinton Cards to make note of the players who would benefit from a move away from Chelsea in the final week of the window.
Enzo Maresca has already confirmed – in a bullish, uncompromising style that is quickly becoming familiar to the Stamford Bridge faithful – that Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are not part of his plans.
Axel Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka and Cesare Casadei appear unlikely to feature with any real regularity either.
And then there is Armando Broja. A player who shone on loan at Southampton during the 2021/22 season but has not come close to hitting those standards since due to a combination of injury and a lack of game time.
HITC understands that Southampton have shown an interest in bringing Broja back to St Mary’s.
The speedy Albania international also has admirers at West Ham United, Nottingham Forest and Everton. Forest have made more concerted moves for Santiago Gimenez of Feyenoord and Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal, however, while Everton boss Sean Dyche played down the chance of any late-window arrives after Saturday’s 4-0 trouncing by Tottenham Hotspur.
This, therefore, leaves Ipswich Town as potentially Broja’s most likely destination.
Ipswich Town in talks with Chelsea over Armando Broja
The newly-promoted Tractor Boys agreed a loan deal with Chelsea a few days ago but things have gone quiet since. Manager Kieran McKenna remains hopeful that a deal can be agreed, however, insisting that the talks are still ‘ongoing’.
“With Armando, he’s of course a player that we’ve spoken to,” McKenna tells the East Anglian Daily Times ahead of Wednesday’s EFL Cup clash with AFC Wimbledon.. “I think that’s pretty well known (that we are interested in Broja).
“There’s discussions going on with Chelsea at the moment, but I’ve not been privy to them in the last 24 hours. There’s discussions ongoing, so we’ll see if it’s the right thing for the clubs and the player before Friday.
“Other than that, it’s not right to speak on any other rumours until something is confirmed.”
Broja, per The Guardian, is valued by Chelsea at £30 million. There have been issues with the required paperwork, though McKenna remains hopeful that a solution can be found.
Despite losing their two games back in the big time, there is still a sense of genuine optimism around the club. Ipswich held their own for spells against Liverpool and Manchester City before being defeated by the sheer quality of their opposition.
Ipswich have also spent impressively and ambitiously in the market.
Kieran McKenna keen on more signings at Portman Road
Jack Clarke, outstanding last season at Sunderland, is the latest eye-catching arrival. He follows in the footsteps of Jacob Greaves, Liam Delap, Dara O’Shea, England international Kalvin Phillips, the twinkle-toed Omari Hutchinson, and former Napoli man Jens Cajuste.
“It’s a fine balance as a manager. Of course, you have a part to play in the recruitment and a big part in it, but the focus for me is on the next training session coming up in an hour or two, then getting ready for Wednesday night,” McKenna adds.
“The club is going to work really hard to be as strong as possible by Friday night (when the window closes). We’re still going to stay active right through to Friday, so there’s the possibility (of more signings)
“We’ll only do it if it’s right. If we feel that it adds to the squad, adds to the group that we have here and it’s in the right interests of the club.
“We know the rigours of the season we have ahead and we want to be really strong in terms of quality and depth.
“We’re getting there now. But if there’s additions we can make until Friday that we think can help us, we’ll try and do so.”
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