Everton could submit a counter-offer in a bid to thwart West Ham's move for Armando Broja, according to Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian. 

The lowdown

Everton want to sign a replacement striker after they sold Richarlison to Tottenham Hotspur for £60million.

Broja, who spent last season on loan at Southampton, has flown home from Chelsea's pre-season tour of the United States.

Steinberg writes that he's returning to England because of injury, but The Northern Echo's Scott Wilson reported on Monday that the hope was 'to tie up his future'.

Lampard gave Broja his Chelsea debut during his time as manager and heaped praise upon him last season, describing him as a 'very talented young boy', 'fast' and 'strong'.

Both the Hammers and Blues had already made one bid each for the striker.

The latest

Steinberg tweeted on Monday that West Ham had submitted an 'improved £30m+ bid for Chelsea's Armando Broja'.

The Albanian has 'asked to leave' Stamford Bridge but 'doesn't want a loan', preferring a permanent exit.

'Everton could bid too', he adds, but worryingly, Broja is 'close' to agreeing personal terms with West Ham already.

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The verdict

Even if Everton can submit an offer that meets Chelsea's demands, they'll have to convince Broja to snub West Ham.

And his move to the London Stadium already seems to be pretty far down the line.

Broja, a 2021 Golden Boy nominee, knows that he'll have the opportunity to play European football with David Moyes' side next season, provided they come through the Europa Conference League qualifying play-offs.

And he may also be confident of displacing Michail Antonio as the team's leading no. 9, given that the Jamaican only scored three Premier League goals between New Year's Day and the end of last season.

It simply looks like a more attractive destination right now after Everton barely avoided relegation in 2021/22, especially as Dominic Calvert-Lewin is arguably harder to displace as the number one option.

And they've hardly been able to strengthen either, with free agent James Tarkowski the only signing at Goodison so far.