Southampton striker Armando Broja celebrates
West Ham United have made an ‘official’ enquiry regarding the possibility of signing Chelsea striker Armando Broja, according to The Daily Mail.Â
The lowdown: Uncertain future
Following the conclusion of a stellar season-long loan spell at Southampton, Broja has returned to his parent club, where it remains to be seen whether he will be part of the long-term plans.
The 20-year-old Albania international has only made one first-team outing for the capital club to date and isn’t part of Thomas Tuchel’s travelling squad for the pre-season tour of the USA.
That major omission has unsurprisingly led to further doubts over Broja’s future at Stamford Bridge and the Hammers appear to have made their intentions known…
The latest: ‘Registered their interest’
As per The Daily Mail, West Ham, Everton and Newcastle United are all keen on signing the 14-cap star this summer.
It’s claimed that the Irons have recently ‘formally registered their interest’ in Broja as Chelsea plan to ‘hold further talks’ with the powerful centre-forward in the coming days.
The report also states that West Ham have ‘made official contact to indicate their desire to sign’ the youngster, who was dubbed the ‘real deal’ by Premier League legend Martin Keown in a 3-1 defeat for the Irons in the FA Cup fifth round, during which the Albanian scored and won a penalty.
The verdict: Go all out
Valued at £19.8million and under contract until 2026 (Transfermarkt), Broja would certainly be an expensive outlay for GSB but no less a worthwhile one given the frontman’s sky-high potential – Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp gushed over his ‘incredible pace and strength‘ last season.
In desperate need of support for Michail Antonio, the Albanian’s direct running style, particularly on the counterattack, and aerial prowess would provide the Scot with a viable like-for-like alternative to the talismanic striker.
Last term Broja – who shares a stylistic likeness with such renowned names as Richarlison, Kasper Dolberg and Ollie Watkins (Fbref) – scored nine times and provided one assist in 38 appearances across all competitions on the south coast, showcasing a ready-made ability to have a positive effect on the London Stadium ranks from the outset.
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