Young Albanian international striker Armando Broja could be the subject of another summer of transfer speculation after reports suggest Serie A outfit SSC Napoli are interested in the Chelsea academy product.
Broja got his first real taste of the weight of expectations in 2021-22 after spending the season on loan at Southampton where he gained considerable plaudits under Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhüttl.
With Romelu Lukaku already settling once more at Inter Milan after securing a loan move back to Serie A, Broja could have been in line for increased minutes this season at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea saw fit to bring in England star Raheem Sterling to supplement the attacking options on offer under Thomas Tuchel, which may well have thrown additional doubt on the 20-year-old’s future in west London.
Napoli are talking to Chelsea over moves for Armando Broja and Kepa, reports @AlfredoPedulla. Positive relations between the two clubs could help in doing the deals.https://t.co/HrT5jBeM6s
— Get Football (@GetFootballEU) July 15, 2022
Reports in Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport through Alfredo Pedulla (cited by Get Italian Football) have linked the potential move of Kalidou Koulibaly to Chelsea and the positive working relationship between both clubs as a springboard for I Partenopei to secure valuable backup in the center-forward channel.
Though club boss Luciano Spalletti can list Andrea Petagna and Franco Ferrari as depth options behind star man Victor Osimhen, Napoli still lacks a real punch in the depth chart behind the Nigerian goalscorer.
Southampton’s English-born Albanian striker Armando Broja (L) scores his team’s opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Leeds United at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, southern England on October 16, 2021. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Despite Osimhen looking likely to remain at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona following a wealth of transfer speculation this summer, a deal for Broja could still be on though the Chelsea academy graduate is said to be in high demand after scoring 6-goals for Saints in the Premier League while quickly becoming a first-choice option at St. Mary’s.
Napoli could also make a move for Chelsea number two Kepa Arrizabalaga, despite first-choice keeper Alex Meret recently extending terms in southern Italy.
With Spalletti said to be unconvinced by the Italian shot-stopper and Kepa well and truly behind Edouard Mendy in the pecking order at Chelsea, the Spanish international could provide necessary competition and a possible avenue for a new lease on life should a move materialize.
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