Wolves boss Gary O'Neil breaks silence over failed loan move for Chelsea's Armando Broja
Armando Broja broke into the scene last season on loan at Southampton. The 20-year-old Albanian striker scored nine goals for the Saints and emerged as one of the best youngsters in the Premier League.
His fine form earned him a place in Thomas Tuchel’s pre-season. However, that was cut short as he had to return home due to an injury. West Ham United were very interested in the striker but to no avail. Tuchel wants the Albanian to be part of his squad next season.
Now, according to The Evening Standard (h/t Metro), La Liga giants Real Madrid have enquired about the 20-year-old. The Madrid club have been recruiting top talent from abroad in recent seasons and have identified Broja as one too.
A Chelsea youth academy graduate, he is one of the most talented players in the squad. The Blues sent Romelu Lukaku back to Inter Milan on loan this summer and are yet to sign a natural number nine to replace him.
This leaves Timo Werner and Michy Batshuayi as the options available to Tuchel. Both the players are facing uncertain futures and are not preferred so much by the coach. Kai Havertz has regularly started in the middle of the front three, but he has been inconsistent in front of goal.
A proper number nine is required and this was visible during the Blue’s pre-season tour of the United States. Tall and technical on the ball, Broja has the ability to become one of the best strikers in the league someday.
He could be the answer to the question Chelsea have been asking, but that requires giving him playing time. Should he leave and join Madrid, his situation is very unlikely to change.
Karim Benzema would want to continue where he left off last season. But in the long term, there could be a place there for Broja. The Frenchman is in the final years of his playing career while Lukak Jovic has left the club this summer.
An interest from Madrid could be enticing to Broja, but Tuchel must do everything he can to keep the player in his squad for next season.
We are clearly devoid of options in the centre-forward position and from what fans have seen, Kai Havertz could be best utilised in some other position rather than as a striker. Broja, meanwhile, has returned back to training from his injury.
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