Southampton have emerged as a potential destination for Chelsea starlet Armando Broja, as the Blues close in on Romelu Lukaku.
According to Football.London, Southampton are closing in on the capture of Armando Broja. They are in advanced talks with Chelsea over a season-long loan deal for the young forward as Ralph Hasenhuttl looks to shore up his goalscoring options in the final third.
Broja has spent the pre-season training with Chelsea’s first-team, making quite an impression with his performances against Peterborough United and Bournemouth. But it appears the imminent arrival of Romelu Lukaku could see him drop down the pecking order, thus opening up the possibility for a loan away from Stamford Bridge.
Already an Albanian international, Broja has been a part of the Chelsea youth setup for quite some time now. He was a part of the club’s Elite Development Team in the 2019/20 campaign and was even handed his senior debut, in a win over Everton, in the same season.
The 19-year-old spent the most recent season on loan at Vitesse Arnhem, notching up ten goals in 30 appearances in Eredivisie. His performances haven’t gone unnoticed either, with Southampton ready to offer him an opportunity to showcase his talents in the Premier League.
Gunning for a mid-table finish in the league this season, the Saints are in desperate need of a new number nine after Danny Ings’ shock move to Aston Villa. The likes of Shane Long and Michael Obafemi certainly haven’t delivered the goods, while Che Adams cannot be trusted as the only source of goals.
Therefore, Southampton’s interest in Broja makes a world of sense. The Chelsea youngster has turned a lot of heads with his performances, and his experience of playing in the Albanian national team should be a massive help in his quest to become a first-team regular at St. Mary’s Stadium next season.
The move can be beneficial for Chelsea, too, as it would give them the opportunity to assess Broja for an entire Premier League campaign. The Blues otherwise are keen on offloading their other options, with Tammy Abraham, in particular, set for a move away from Stamford Bridge. The Englishman is incidentally a target for Southampton as well.
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In addition to Broja and Abraham, RB Leipzig forward Alexander Sorloth has also emerged as a potential candidate to replace Ings at Southampton. The Norwegian has unfinished business in the Premier League after struggling at Crystal Palace earlier in his career.
