Report: PL club in talks with Chelsea to sign 19-year-old starlet

Transfer News: Southampton chasing Chelsea striker Armando Broja

According to a report by The Athletic (Subscription Required), Southampton have opened talks with Chelsea to sign Armando Broja during this transfer window.

The 19-year-old Albanian striker is highly regarded by the Blues, and the Saints have earmarked him to help plug the hole left by Danny Ings. The 29-year-old Englishman joined Aston Villa earlier this month.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have already signed Tino Livramento and Dynel Simeu from Chelsea this summer. And they now want Broja, preferably on a permanent transfer. (h/t The Athletic) [h/t Subscription Required]

Broja, who recently signed a new contract with the club, was earmarked for first-team football at Stamford Bridge this season, according to Goal (h/t Metro) and as covered by ASBTF.

Broja set for Saints move?

But that was if the Blues failed to land a striker this summer, which they are close to doing now after agreeing on a £97.5million fee with Inter Milan for 28-year-old superstar, Romelu Lukaku.

After Lukaku’s imminent arrival, Chelsea would have Timo Werner and the former Manchester United striker as their options in attack. Kai Havertz has also played in that role under Thomas Tuchel.

Hence, Broja’s minutes could be severely restricted at the club. A loan move would perhaps please Chelsea fans more, considering the Albanian international’s quality at such a young age.

More Chelsea News:

• Transfer News: Trevoh Chalobah set to depart Chelsea on a loan spell
• Declan Rice to stay at West Ham as Chelsea, Manchester United and Man City focus elsewhere
• Transfer News: Chelsea buying Romelu Lukaku set to foil Tottenham Hotspur’s Lautaro Martinez plan

Broja was on loan at Vitesse Arnhem last season and bagged 10 league goals in an impressive season. He has one senior Chelsea appearance to his name, which came in the 2019/20 Premier League season.