West Ham United are reportedly inching a step closer to the capture of Chelsea frontman Armando Broja this summer.
According to Fabrizio Romano, West Ham United have made a crucial stride in their pursuit of Armando Broja. The Londoners have a personal agreement in place with the Albanian international, while talks with Chelsea are moving forward swiftly as well.
West Ham ideally want to sign Broja on a permanent deal or at least on a loan deal with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the upcoming season. However, the decision is up to Chelsea whether or not they want to sanction a permanent move for the young forward, who is coming on the back of a healthy season at Southampton.
Broja scored six Premier League goals for the Saints last season, helping the club remain safely away from the relegation battle. His aerial prowess in the final third, coupled with his work ethic and determination raised many eyebrows across England, with West Ham among the clubs seeking his services ahead of the new season.
The Hammers are currently in the market for a new centre-forward. West Ham have appeared overly reliant on the services of Michail Antonio for far too long. The Jamaican international has been quite inconsistent lately, while the abundance of footballing action has raised questions over his fitness levels.
It has accentuated the need for a new central striker that can serve as an alternative for Antonio next season. West Ham have targeted a move for Italian international Gianluca Scamacca, but it seems Broja could be a cheaper option, with the Chelsea forward also proving himself in the Premier League last season, despite scoring just six goals.
However, Chelsea are facing a tough decision on whether or not they should offload Broja this summer. The Blues have already facilitated Romelu Lukaku’s return to Inter Milan and are actively looking to offload Timo Werner as well. Although Raheem Sterling has arrived from Manchester City, Chelsea are in need of a new number nine.
Armando Broja could be an interesting option for Chelsea as the youngster is capable of offering the physical presence and work ethic the club are missing in their attack. At the same time, the Albanian international lacks professional experience, and a loan move to West Ham could certainly benefit him, on a personal level.
