Martin Keown backs Chelsea loanee Armando Broja to shine at Stamford Bridge
In conversation with BBC Sports (h/t Football.London), Arsenal legend Martin Keown showered praise on Chelsea starlet Armando Broja, who is currently out on loan at Southampton. The former Premier League player also believes that the Blues will want the Albanian professional footballer back next season.
There has been a lot of uncertainty regarding the ownership of the club in recent times. Despite all these developments, Thomas Tuchel would be hoping to continue the good work that he has done at Stamford Bridge. With that in mind, the club may have to dip in the transfer market for reinforcements
With the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, and Andreas Christensen being on contracts that expire at the end of the season, the Blues may have to add suitable defensive reinforcements in their ranks. The attacking department has also not made life easier for us with the likes of Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku finding it difficult to hit the ground running since making the move to the West London club.
If the forward lineup continues to struggle in the same manner, Tuchel could be tempted to recall the Albanian professional footballer back from his loan with the Saints at the end of the season. The 20-year-old has already recorded nine goals and one assist in 27 matches across all competitions for Southampton so far.
Speaking to BBC (h/t Football.London), Keown was full of adoration for Broja. He also highlighted that the Blues could clearly do with a player of his calibre in their roster. The Albanian’s latest striker came in the Saints’ 3-1 win over West Ham United in the FA Cup earlier this week.
“Pace, power and then the finesse at the end of it… Look at that for a cultured finish. This is a player. Top, top player. Going back to Chelsea, clearly they want him back after this. So impressive.”
At 20, one could argue whether it would be too soon to inculcate Broja into the first-team setup at Chelsea but the young striker has showcased his class against some of the top teams like Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United this campaign. Age in football is just a number if you’re good enough to make the cut, after all.
The youngster has developed a great deal under the tutelage of Ralph Hasenhüttl at the Saint Mary’s Stadium. The Austrian manager has made him an integral part of his system and is also looking forward to keeping him with the Saints past the current season.
These few years could prove to be extremely crucial for the Albanian striker in terms of his development. He has shown positive signs of making it at the top so far but his future will have to be managed very carefully. The Blues have built a great youth system over the years with the likes of Mason Mount and Reece James coming through the ranks.
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Martin Keown has backed the young starlet to rejoin Chelsea and many of the fans and faithful would be harbouring the same sentiments. The 20-year-old has definitely shown promise in the reds and white jersey of Southampton but only time can tell whether or not he makes his way to Stamford Bridge and is able to reproduce that same kind of form.