What Chelsea have told AC Milan about Armando Broja will give David Moyes a major boost amid striker transfer rumours.
One of the longest running sagas of the summer window involved West Ham and their pursuit of Chelsea striker Broja.
The Hammers were first linked with a move for the Slough-born Albania striker last season after he seriously caught the eye on loan at Southampton (Football Insider).
Sky Sports actually reported that Broja was top of Moyes’s list of striker targets for the summer window.
With no movement on their interest in Broja, West Ham spent £35m on Italian striker Gianluca Scamacca. But speculation continued to link the Hammers with the Chelsea academy graduate.
That was until then Blues boss Thomas Tuchel and new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly handed Broja a new long-term deal.
Since then Tuchel has been sacked and replaced in the Chelsea hotseat by Graham Potter, who himself has struggled initially.
And Broja has barely played, starting only two games and playing just 290 minutes in the Premier League so far this season (WhoScored).
The West Ham target’s chances look increasingly bleak too with Chelsea having agreed a deal to sign striker Christopher Nkunku.
West Ham have struggled this season with just 12 goals in 15 games as they sit one point off the bottom three.
Scamacca has been starved of service and Michail Antonio has been out of sorts as he closes in on his 33rd birthday in March.
There could be new hope that a move for the Chelsea forward may yet be possible for West Ham, though.
Because what Chelsea have told AC Milan about Broja will give Moyes a major boost amid striker rumours.
West Ham are said to be very keen to sign another striker (The Sun).
And it seems Chelsea’s stance on Broja has changed as Milan have been told they would consider selling him when Nkunku arrives.
Better still for West Ham – where the board will reportedly only sanction loan moves for Moyes in January – Chelsea are open to loaning Broja out in the winter window – something that does not appeal to Milan and has forced them to look elsewhere.
“Milan have been in contact with Broja’s entourage for a number of weeks, sounding out a possible January move, but a roadblock has appeared on the horizon,” Football Italia and Calciomercato report.
“As reported by Daniele Longo of Calciomercato, Chelsea have made it clear to Milan that they won’t consider selling Broja until the end of the season, ruling out a possible (permanent) deal in January.
“The Albanian forward recently penned a new deal with the Blues, tying him to the club until 2028, so they’d only consider a temporary departure in January, something the Rossoneri aren’t interested in.”
This could be perfect for West Ham. The Hammers are no real threat to Chelsea’s league position this term so there is no risk that loaning him to their London rivals could come back to bite Potter.
The reports claim Chelsea are only open to a loan in January and a sale in the summer. West Ham can reportedly only bring in loans in January so a loan with an option or obligation to buy for West Ham could suit all parties.