Done Deal! Armando Broja joining Southampton on loan
The Chelsea youngster is set for a big development move
Chelsea’s striker movements are beginning to take shape now.
Romelu ‘Lubacku’ is all but done, and Tammy Abraham is generating a lot of interest now and is likely to leave.
He prefers Arsenal, but he does have some interesting offers from abroad as well. Arsenal are pursuing him, as our some top Serie A sides such as Atalanta.
Armando Broja meanwhile is joining Southampton on loan for the season, which will be a fantastic development move for him.
Things have been taking shape on this one over the weekend and Saints moved quick to get in there ahead of others.
Chelsea considered keeping him in the squad and Thomas Tuchel did like what he saw from him, but the decision was made to send him out on loan because it will be best for his long-term career rather than sitting on the Chelsea bench this season behind Lukaku and Kai Havertz.
I am yet to have any confirmation on this and I have asked some questions, but this makes me wonder whether Michy Batshuayi could stay in the Chelsea squad as a backup striker option, if both Abraham and Broja go.
There is every chance that Tuchel decides to just go with Lukaku, Havertz, Werner, and other false 9s such as Hakim Ziyech as our options up top this season without having to keep Batshuayi.
But it does interest me as he has been watching Batshuayi closely in games and training, and we are yet to hear of any solid interest/movement on a potential move away from Chelsea.
He has year left on his contract, so you’d expect if he did stay, Chelsea would probably extend his deal by another year or two. But this IS me just speculating I must reiterate that.
*Further info… I’ve had an answer back on Batshuayi and it does look like Chelsea are still trying offload him but there are a lack of suitors on a permanent deal. So Chelsea might try and extend his contract by another year and loan him out again.
Simon Phillips