Armando Broja - Speed, power, and finesse, but let's stay patient
Broja has the makings of becoming a top striker, but his development is under construction still
I celebrated Armando Broja signing a new long-term contract with Chelsea over the weekend like I would have if we’d made an exciting new summer signing.
This is because I know how good this lad can become, and how much potential he has, and for a while him signing a new deal was under doubt.
But I want to say, his development over the next couple of seasons will be absolutely pinnacle and as fans we need to show him we are patient with him, because he really can be the real deal.
Broja has speed, power, and finesse. In the box he has a lethal finish already, off the mark he can burst away with pace, and physically he has the build to be a great number 9.
He is becoming an all-round striker, something that is not too regular in football today. He has that old-fashioned number 9 style about his play, but he is also technically good and can be a good link-up striker as well as a box striker.
Chelsea will need to make a decision on Broja this summer, whether he stays with the squad, or whether he goes back out on loan again.
Personally, I’d like to see the latter, for the sake of his development. Purely because to develop you need to play regular senior football at his age, he needs to build his confidence and his ability, because although all the above is factual, he also has parts of his game that he does need to improve, as all young players do.
I’m told that Thomas Tuchel has been enjoying what he has seen from Broja in training in the last two weeks, and he loves his attitude and eye for a goal. Broja even grabbed a goal in the behind closed doors friendly against Peterborough on Saturday.
So there is a chance, depending on the striker situation and circumstances, that Tuchel prefers to keep Broja in his squad this season and although that will be great for many reasons, I think ideally he needs to go out on loan in order to get the most amount of games under his belt for his development.
Simon Phillips