Chelsea will listen to offers for Armando Broja across the remainder of the transfer window as they prepare to recruit a new big-name striker this summer, 90min understands.
Broja, an academy graduate, has fought his way back from a nasty injury to make 19 appearances across all competitions this season, contributing two goals and two assists.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino has openly confessed his admiration for the 22-year-old, who he has likened to former Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane at this young stage of his career, but sources have confirmed to 90min that those in charge at Chelsea are prepared to field offers for Broja either this window or in the summer.
With Nicolas Jackson ahead of him in the pecking order already, Broja’s minutes stand to fall even further this summer as Chelsea are planning to make a significant signing to bolster their attack. Napoli’s Victor Osimhen, whose contract contains a release clause worth over £100m, is a serious target.
It is for that reason that Chelsea officials see Broja as expendable and a useful sale on their books, so the decision has been made to field offers.
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A £50m price tag has been placed on Broja’s head, with Blues officials looking at Manchester United’s £72m signing of Rasmus Hojlund when setting their valuation of a striker who has eight Premier League goals to his name.
However, sources expect Chelsea to entertain any offers above £35m, and perhaps even a repeat of the £33m bid made by West Ham United in 2022 could be enough to be accepted.
Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers have shown the strongest interest in Broja thus far. Wolves had suggested a loan with an option to make the move permanent but Chelsea are eyeing either an outright sale or an obligation to make any loan permanent this summer.
There has also been some formative interest from Aston Villa, whose president of football operations Monchi had spoken about a swap deal which would see 20-year-old Jhon Duran move to Chelsea in exchange, but nothing has advanced in that regard.
Chelsea will welcome Jackson back from the Africa Cup of Nations in the coming weeks and the 22-year-old will likely be restored to the starting lineup at Broja’s expense, while Pochettino is also prepared to call on Christopher Nkunku and Cole Palmer as makeshift strikers.
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