Wolves are keen on Chelsea striker Armando Broja but former Premier League midfielder Danny Murphy feels Mauricio Pochettino cannot afford to let one of the few centre-forwards at his disposal leave Stamford Bridge.
In truth, Saturday’s West London derby between Chelsea and local neighbours Fulham did a pretty good job of summing up how the entire campaign has gone so far for Armando Broja.
The England-born Albania international has scored only twice in 17 appearances, and squandered a few glorious opportunities to enhance that rather miserly tally at Stamford Bridge. He powered a header wide in the first half, and failed to convert a Malo Gusto cross in the second.
Wolverhampton Wanderers, according to The Guardian, are willing to offer Broja the chance to recapture the form he showed on loan at Southampton before his progress was curtailed by a cruel long-term injury.
Wolves like Chelsea striker Armando Broja
Wolves like Chelsea striker Armando Broja
Murphy, however, wonders if Chelsea can really afford to let the academy graduate go, regardless of his ongoing struggles in the final third. Fellow forward Christopher Nkunku, after all, has suffered plenty of fitness issues of his own of late.
“(Broja) has had a bad injury to be fair to him,” the former England, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder tells talkSPORT (17 January, 12pm). “Nkunku, I know (his latest injury) is not as bad as we first thought.
“But I don’t know if Chelsea can let Broja go, can they?”
Pochettino eyeing strikers
HITC Football understands that Chelsea do have reservations about Broja’s ability to lead the line under Mauricio Pochettino. The underperforming London giants are also considering a host of affordable centre-forwards during the winter window.
Serhou Guirassy has a £15 million release clause in his Stuttgart contract. Vangelis Pavlidis, prolific at AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie, should not cost too much more than that either. There is also interest from West Ham, Fulham and Crystal Palace, HITC has been informed.
Chelsea are expected to demand around £30 million for Broja. As such, Wolves may look to strike a short-term loan deal. A permanent transfer likely to be beyond their means this month.
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