- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Chelsea forward Armando Broja doesn’t have a long-term future at the club, HITC Football understands.
Sources have told HITC Football that several Premier League clubs – Wolves, Fulham, Crystal Palace and West Ham United – have expressed interest in the 22-year-old.
Armando Broja has come through Chelsea’s academy making a total of 36 appearances, including a loan spell at Southampton.
But it has been suggested to HITC Football that the London club are ready to let their academy star leave this month – but they will not let him leave for with a permanent deal being in place.
Sources close to Stamford Bridge have confirmed to HITC that £35m would be the starting figure for a deal to land the Albanian, with Chelsea willing to let him go on a loan deal but with an obligation.
Should Chelsea let Armando Broja leave?
During a period where Chelsea have done nothing but splash the cash, especially on young stars, it has to be questioned why they would be willing to let Broja leave.
If finances are playing a big part, then fair enough, but if not, then Chelsea clearly haven’t learnt from the likes of Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori, Marc Guehi, Tino Livramento and Nathan Ake, to name a few.
Yes, Broja only has three goals to his name in Chelsea colours. But patience is needed with this player. Build him up, then watch him explode.
But with Mauricio Pochettino’s side probably keen for the here and now, then somebody has to pay the price and it seems like it will be Broja.
Although, the Chelsea boss has previously stated that the striker’s potential is ‘amazing’.
Broja will become a top performer in the Premier League
Just give the lad time and watch him prove his worth to the rest of the world.
All the parties that are interested in him would benefit from his talents, perhaps more so Palace, simply because they are in deeper trouble than the rest.
But, from the player’s standpoint, if all things are equal and he had a choice of picking one, then it wouldn’t be a surprise if he moved across London and joined West Ham.
They are currently in the Europa League, after winning the Conference League last season, and are sitting sixth in the table.
There is every chance European football returns to the London Stadium next season and that’s something the rest might not be able to offer him, although Gary O’Neil’s Wolves also have a big chance of finishing in the top seven.
Ahead of Chelsea’s second-leg League Cup semi-final showdown against Middlesbrough, Pochettino was asked about Broja at his pre-match presser: “At the moment, there is no news. We cannot update in any way. It is all so quiet which is good. There’s no news about players that can leave or come in.”
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