West Ham United improve bid for Armando Broja as Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel claims fall flat
Chelsea are clinging onto striker Armando Broja after an improved bid from West Ham but the player still wants to move, according to The Express.
Blues boss Thomas Tuchel had reacted to developments that appeared to have the Albanian on the brink of a move to the London Stadium by claiming, via Fabrizio Romano: “I don’t expect Armando to leave. We are aware of offers. We are aware of interest. That tells us his potential”.
But that has apparently not changed anything, and after the Hammers sent an improved £30million offer on Tuesday (19 July) the Stamford Bridge side are now trying to delay the move.
Express reporter Charlie Gordon wrote on Twitter on Wednesday evening: “Told that Chelsea are delaying Armando Broja’s move to West Ham.
“Striker still keen, Tuchel publicly calling for him to stay today hasn’t changed anything.
“Improved £30m bid from Hammers made yesterday.”
A loan deal is no longer an option and Chelsea have now agreed with the 20-year-old a permanent switch would be preferable [Express], but will not let the deal across the line.
Matter of time
Every time it looks like the final hurdles have been cleared and a deal is imminent Broja’s current manager claims the opposite.
At this point it appears that his wishes are no longer having an effect on the player, who has already left the club’s preseason tour of the US.
The German looks like he is now just playing for time but it is no longer clear who that benefits.
If he is going to insist on keeping the former Southampton loanee at Stamford Bridge then Chelsea need to make that clear to everyone now, although they would likely have an unhappy player if they do that.
He can’t be hoping to see how Broja performs in preseason because the youngster has picked up a knock and flown home.
And it doesn’t look like he is waiting for a replacement to come in as there has been no mention of a central striking option being on their transfer wish list.
The Irons have a strong bid on the table and the player wants to come. It seems inevitable that it will happen so the delaying tactics make little sense without an outright refusal.