Armando Broja has been sidelined with injury for almost all of 2023 (Photo: Getty)
Chelsea will reportedly reject any offers for Armando Broja in January with local rivals Fulham interested in signing the striker.
Fulham have made signing a striker their No.1 priority when the transfer window re-opens, as the club have struggled for goals since Aleksandar Mitrovic left for the Saudi Pro League last summer.
So far this season, only Luton, Sheffield United and Burnley have scored fewer than the Cottagers’ 13 goals, with centre-forwards Raul Jimenez and Carlos Vinicius finding the back of the net just twice between them.
One of their top targets is Broja, who has shown much potential to become a top Premier League player but recently his development has stalled thanks to injuries.
A cruciate ligament tear picked up in a friendly last December ruled him out for 10 months, but in October he scored on his first start since his recovery – ironically in a 2-0 win against Fulham.
A fresh knee injury sidelined him for a few more games afterward, but on his return from that he had another instant impact – winning the stoppage time penalty in Chelsea’s epic 4-4 draw against Manchester City.
It is these flashes of greatness that have made the 22-year-old so coveted, with AC Milan and West Ham previously interested in signing him.
Summer signing Raul Jimenez has failed to deliver the goals for Fulham (Photo: Getty)
But according to the Evening Standard, Mauricio Pochettino has no interest in selling the Albanian international, who in turn has no desire to leave Stamford Bridge.
That’s despite the reports that the Blues are looking to sign a new No.9 in January, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Brentford’s Ivan Toney top of their shortlist.
But it is said that the manager wants to keep Broja around to provide competition for Nicolas Jackson and help fire Chelsea up the table after their woeful start that has left the club 10th and 12 points off the top-four.
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Broja, who previously enjoyed a successful loan spell at Southampton, penned a new long-term contract last season, which should keep him at Chelsea until 2028.
He’ll be hoping to make a positive impact when the Blues host Brighton on Sunday.
Fulham meanwhile have alternative targets lined-up, namely Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy and Wolfsburg’s Jonas Wind.
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