Armando Broja could save Chelsea MILLIONS in the transfer market this summer

James Shearman

• Updated: 28 Jul 2021 13:38 BST
• 4 min read

Chelsea youngster Armando Broja could save the club a fortune this summer if he continues to prove to manager Thomas Tuchel that he is worthy of a place in the first-team squad.

The Blues are desperate for a new forward option after Timo Werner's dismal finishing last campaign as well as the departure of Olivier Giroud.

Tammy Abraham remains at the club, for now, but is not thought to be in the German bosses' plans.

As a result, the club are reportedly eyeing up an outrageous bid of £160million for Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland, but Broja will be out to show that there is no need.

And with a number of Tuchel's go-to players such as Kai Havertz and Mason Mount yet to feature in pre-season, after playing in the European Championship, the Albanian has been given the chance to do just that in Chelsea's friendly matches.

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Broja has scored three goals in as many appearances this summer, as he bids to earn a spot in the Champions League winners' highly competitive squad.

Broja to save Chelsea millions?

There is more than one way for Broja to save Chelsea a fortune this summer.

First, albeit unlikely, Tuchel may have seen enough from the forward to relinquish interest in expensive targets Haaland, or Inter's Romelu Lukaku. Broja is clearly not at their level, yet, but the German could believe in the trio of Werner, Abraham and Broja to score enough goals between them to mount a title charge this campaign.

However, the more feasible scenario is that the Albania international has overtaken fellow academy graduate Abraham in the pecking order. This would allow for the sale of the 23-year-old, to either Aston Villa or West Ham for a fee of around £35million.

This sum would contribute significantly to the potential club-record addition of Haaland, or simply cover the cost of signing French defender Jules Kounde from Sevilla.

Is Broja ready for Chelsea?

Broja is rated extremely highly at Chelsea, and the club view him as a future star. He was handed his first-team debut aged just 18 when he appeared off the bench in a routine Premier League victory over Everton in March 2020.

The 19-year-old then spent the 2020-21 season on loan at Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem, netting 11 goals in all competitions and helping the side to a top-four finish and to the KNVB Cup final.

Now, with the experience of top-flight football under his belt, and an impressive start to pre-season, Broja will fancy his chances at Stamford Bridge.

And while another loan move, to a Championship or bottom-half Premier League side, might be best for his development, Broja looks poised to become a member of the first team.