Chelsea will refuse any offers for striker Armando Broja in January - report
Chelsea will refuse any offers for 21-year-old striker Armando Broja in the January transfer window amid interest from AC Milan, according to the Evening Standard.
The Albanian has been used sparingly this season after a highly successful loan spell at Southampton last year, making just 12 appearances for The Blues this campaign.
The 21-year-old has subsequently managed just one goal this season in a struggling Chelsea side, who now sit eight points off the Champions League places.
AC Milan have been reportedly interested in making a move for both Broja and winger Hakim Ziyech in January, but according to the Evening Standard, Broja is very much part of Graham Potter’s long-term vision at the club.
The report said: “Milan are also interested in Chelsea striker Armando Broja but the Blues will refuse any offers for the Albania international, who does not want to leave.”
Maturing
Although Broja is undoubtedly a talented footballer, Chelsea seems insistent on bedding in the Albanian forward at a slower rate than many fans would like.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang coming in during the summer transfer window and Kai Havertz also an option in attack, Broja faces stiff competition if he wants consistent game-time when the Premier League season resumes in December.
However, already under Potter, the striker has seen his game time slowly increase in comparison to former manager Thomas Tuchel, starting against both Brentford and Newcastle recently.
The Albanian is a scary prospect. His straight-line speed is rumoured to be the quickest at Chelsea, and this is matched with the physicality of a centre-back, showing he has all the ingredients to be a top-class Premier League striker for a decade to come.
He’s ever-so-slightly rough around the edges and needs to sharpen up his finishing, but once he does, he will be a terrifying prospect for centre-backs across Europe.
In other news, Chelsea have deadline by which they can recall Callum Hudson-Odoi from Bayer Leverkusen – report.