After sustaining a major injury just over a year ago, Armando Broja has not yet established himself as a crucial striker for Chelsea, and the forward may be available for a transfer.
Armando Broja’s potential has already been dubbed “amazing” by Mauricio Pochettino; but will Chelsea be the place where he realizes it?
With Christopher Nkunku attempting to make a comeback from a hip injury and Nicolas Jackson representing Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations, the 22-year-old forward is the only available striker for the Blues right now. But speculation about what lies ahead for the Cohbham-product hasn’t stopped.
Given the likelihood that the Blues will add a new forward during the course of the next two transfer windows, it is likely that a player will depart with any inbound transfer. Several Chelsea players who were developed through the academy have left or been made available for transfer during the last 12 months.
The potential for the club to turn a profit alone may help it meet sustainability and profit requirements. With more than four years left on his current Chelsea contract, Broja has regularly attracted interest from West Ham, and the forward’s name has previously been brought up in conversation alongside Bayern Munich.
Broja had the perfect development path in many respects. The Slough-born striker, who joined the team at the conclusion of his under-9 campaign, experienced success at the youth level before winning a Premier League 2 championship at the end of the 2019–20 campaign. Under Frank Lampard, Broja made his Chelsea first team debut and signed his first professional contract that year.
Additionally, it was sufficient to persuade the Blues that Broja was prepared to follow the well-trod route to the Eredivisie with Vitesse. The Albanian international scored goals to share the club’s top goal total at the end of his time in the Netherlands, and he was then loaned to the Premier League.
Throughout his season with Southampton, Broja scored nine goals while coming in and out of the starting lineup. Despite the uncertainty, he made an impression and was invited to train with Thomas Tuchel in the United States before the season began.
While the club publicly stated they had no interest in selling their asset, Broja left the trip early, attracting interest from several teams. While players like Michy Batshuayi stayed with the Blues team, West Ham was eager to sign the forward to a long-term contract.
In the end, Broja signed a new six-year contract and remained at Stamford Bridge. While Todd Boehly and company struck new deals with players like Trevoh Chalobah and Reece James, there was a commitment to sign homegrown talent to longer contracts.
This was the point at which Broja’s steady course faltered. Though he only got to start twice before suffering a catastrophic ACL injury in a friendly against Aston Villa, he displayed flashes of talent. That was the end of his season, and he is still, in many respects, working his way back to that point.
Since May 2022, Broja has not completed 90 minutes, and his contributions are still being overseen. After three matches—against Middlesbrough, Fulham, and Preston—it was decided that the forward was only healthy enough to start two of them.
Despite scoring against Preston in the FA Cup, he was benched against Boro. After his season-long goal against the Championship team, Mauricio Pochettino gave a mix of appreciation and hard truths.
“To be honest, it’s really important for him, but I think he needs to use this kind of game to get better,” he said. He needs to step up, move forward, smile more, and be more positive in order to improve not only in his physical fitness but also in his work ethic.
“We are talking about one of the most talented young strikers in Europe or England, and his potential is incredible. We’ll do our best to support him in realizing that hard work and perseverance are the only things that will suffice.”
Chelsea currently lies there. Broja’s potential is believed, but as with any project, there is a need to deliver results right away. There seems to be a possibility for Broja to establish his worth. During the next two windows, the current crop of forwards could persuade the Blues before the west London side secures the elite forward many feel they are missing.
It’s telling in and of itself that Broja is rumored to be sold for £50 million. It is probably more than a team would be willing to pay for the striker and about the same as what it would take to get Conor Gallagher, a key player for Stamford Bridge this season, to leave the club.
Naturally, Chelsea might be open to talks, but the team has a history of being obstinate about their assessments. In Gallagher’s case, Chelsea turned down a bid of about £40 million from West Ham, even though some might have thought it was wise business.
The Blues will, in part, determine a price at which it would be more advantageous to sell each of their players. Whether someone can reach that standard and whether Broja’s performances change that charge will be the true tests.
