Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink urges Thomas Tuchel Chelsea to give Armando Broja a run in the first team next season
Speaking to Prime Slots as quoted by Football London, former Blues striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has urged Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel to give loanee Armando Broja a run in the team next season following his impressive spell at Southampton.
The Albanian striker is out on loan at Southampton and has impressed one and all with his exploits for the Saints this season. With 9 goals and 1 assist in 37 matches this season, there is no denying the fact that the 20-year-old target-man has been a key cog in Ralph Hasenhüttl’s team.
Despite being one of the breakthrough stars in the Premier League this season, the Chelsea striker has been drawing criticism of late for his dwindling goal output in the second half of the season. His prolific nature in the first half of the season seems to be a thing of the past now.
The recent dip in form notwithstanding, there is no denying that the Cobham starlet has the required tools to succeed at Stamford Bridge and Hasselbaink has urged Tuchel to give the Albanian a chance to do just that.
“You can see that he is a very strong boy, very athletic and quick. He has a good eye for a goal and is single-minded”
“He is still learning his game and needs to improve but he is getting it right. If I was Chelsea, I would not sell him yet and I would see how he develops next season. Maybe he will prove to be a player that is good enough for the Chelsea team.”
An answer to Chelsea’s striker troubles?
Despite having scored 73 goals in the Premier League this season, the form of their strikers has failed to convince fans that we have a world-class attack as compared to the likes of Liverpool, and the Blues have been forced to depend on other areas of the pitch for goals.
Both Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku have not been up to levels that the Blues expect of them and Tuchel has often benched both his striker and played the impressive Kai Havertz as the number nine this season.
A future for Broja at Chelsea?
Having scored three goals in his last two Premier League games, there is a chance that Lukaku’s fortunes might be turning at Chelsea but it is too early to tell. There is no denying that the former Inter Milan striker is as good as it gets when at his best, and if he manages to turn a corner, he would undoubtedly be one of Tuchel’s best players.
However, both Werner and Lukaku have been linked with moves away from Stamford Bridge and their futures at the club are far from certain. In such a situation, the Blues may have to dip into the market for a new striker or back on Armando Broja to come good.
It is evident that Chelsea trust their talented forward, having tied the 20-year-old down to a long-term 5-year contract just before loaning him out to the Saints. While he is far from the finished product, the Albanian international has the raw materials required to become a very good striker.
The Blues will be hoping they don’t repeat the same mistake that they made with Tammy Abraham last season by letting Broja leave. It remains to be seen as to what happens with the talented Cobham forward but it is evident that he has done enough at least to warrant a chance at Stamford Bridge.
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Moreover, it would be a very bad look for Chelsea if they have to go out and spend big for the third summer running on an acclaimed striker. It is time to make the most of what we have up front- such as Broja- and rather focus our time and energy on defensive reinforcements.