Since the club moved on from Hugo Ekitike, it has been widely reported that Armando Broja is high up on our list of striker targets.
Both Sky Sports and The Telegraph recently revealed that we are looking to sign the Albanian on loan, believing this would free up additional funds to aid a big-money move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby.
However, according to The Athletic, Broja has ‘no interest’ in leaving Chelsea on another loan, insisting he only wants a permanent move should he not be in Thomas Tuchel’s first-team plans.
The 20-year-old is due to hold more talks with co-owner Todd Boehly over the next ’24 hours’, with him expected to push for a move if he’s not included in the club’s pre-season tour of the US – which begins tomorrow.
Broja spent last season at Southampton and was on loan with Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem the previous year, so it seems he’s keen to find a new home – not a temporary one – if he does leave Stamford Bridge this summer, with ourselves, West Ham, Southampton and Everton all in the running.
Unless our new owners are able to release more funds or money can be raised through player sales, this throws fresh doubt over our ability to bring in both Broja AND Diaby on permanent deals, with recent reports suggesting we have around £50-60m left to spend.
I wonder if a loan with an obligation to buy is something Chelsea would consider, should they agree to part with the 6ft 3′ striker?
