Why Chelsea can't afford to lose Broja amid Real Madrid interest
Cameron Smith
- 29 Jul 2022 06:42 CDT
- 5 min read
Armando Broja is being looked at by Real Madrid, with Los Blancos contacting Chelsea over the possible availability of the Albanian forward this summer.
Broja, 20, has been the subject of much transfer speculation this window, with multiple Premier League teams expressing their interest in signing him following his loan spell at Southampton.
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The Evening Standard's Nizaar Kinsella has reported that Real Madrid have enquired about a move for Broja, with the Chelsea man on their shortlist of young forwards they'd like to sign.
Gareth Bale and Luka Jovic have left the Santiago Bernabeu club this summer, while Marco Asensio has been linked with a move away and Eden Hazard remains a liability fitness-wise.
In fact, the Belgian has reportedly been used as a false nine in training as Carlo Ancelotti prepares for the season with only Mariano Diaz as a back-up for Karim Benzema.
As a result, Real Madrid have begun searching for a potential new striker, with Broja's name coming up. West Ham had a bid rejected for Broja earlier this summer, but it seems unlikely they return for the 20-year-old after signing Sassuolo's Gianluca Scamacca.
However, Newcastle and Everton are both interested, although Chelsea aren't looking to sell the forward on a permanent deal.
According to the Evening Standard, Real Madrid are hoping to offload several forwards from their squad, and want to continue their trend of buying young attackers likely due to the success of Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo.
Despite leaving Chelsea's pre-season tour of the US due to injury and to solve his future, Broja now looks set to stay at Stamford Bridge and has reportedly been handed a shirt number ahead of the new season.
However, an exit is still not off the cards with Premier League interest now accompanied by Real Madrid, who are clearly not convinced by Mariano as a back-up for Benzema.
Speaking ahead of Chelsea's pre-season friendly against Charlotte FC, Thomas Tuchel gave spoke about Broja's future, and said: "I don't expect Armando [Broja] to leave. We are aware of offers. We are aware of interest. That tells us his potential. We will take this decision together, the owners and me with the player.
"When he arrived it was clear he was trying to become a Chelsea player as soon as possible. After his loan at Southampton, the situation was clear to make the next step and show his improvement."
Why Chelsea can't let Broja leave
While the Blues, and Tuchel in particular, are evidently keen to keep Broja this summer, it's imperative that remains the case until the window slams shut.
Although his tally of six Premier League goals for Southampton last year is a fairly measly total, especially considering his goal drought to end the season, Broja showed enough during the campaign to prove he's ready to provide Chelsea with a different kind of striker.
Unlike Kai Havertz, who likes to drop deep and link play, Broja is far more of a last-man striker, playing on the shoulder and always looked to run in behind.
His pace and power caused Harry Maguire nightmares at Old Trafford, while he provided a similar problem for both Tottenham in the Premier League and Spain when on international duty last term.
A direct player, Broja would add a little cut-and-thrust to Chelsea's attack, which is lacking with Havertz, who tends to be more light-weight.
Furthermore, while pre-season form must be taken with a pinch of salt, the German forward didn't score against Club America, Charlotte FC or Arsenal on Chelsea's US tour, despite featuring in all three games and starting in two.
Against Club America especially, he missed several opportunities to get his season up and running.
Havertz is yet to show the form he displayed so often for Bayer Leverkusen at Chelsea, and an alternative through the middle is needed following Romelu Lukaku's loan move back to Inter Milan.
While Broja may not be the blockbuster name that Tuchel wanted, as shown by his brief pursuits of Robert Lewandowski and Gabriel Jesus, he can certainly do a job.
The Albania international has shown his talent for both Vitesse and Southampton, and with the striker market quite limited, Chelsea should keep hold of him in order to provide Tuchel with an out-and-out-striker in the squad.
