First of all, I was very surprised to see the news come in today regarding Armando Broja potentially leaving Chelsea this summer.
As you can see from the report below, he returned from Chelsea’s pre-season trip to America to sort out a move to West Ham, who appear to be closing in on the deal now.
🚨 West Ham close to agreement with Chelsea for Armando Broja. Currently working towards permanent. Personal terms in place but contract length undetermined. Deal didn’t develop at #CFC request but his wish for regular 1st team starts @TheAthleticUK #WHUFC https://t.co/iAan17qWU4
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 18, 2022
After Romelu Lukaku leaving Chelsea early in the window, and Chelsea not being strongly linked with signing any other new strikers (STs) this summer, I assumed Broja would see this as an ideal opportunity to make that position his. But no, it appears that he is the one now pushing for this move.
It’s disappointing I can’t lie, and some of that is down to the fact that Chelsea could be losing their only true number 9. We do not have another player of that calibre. Kai Havertz is more of a false 9, and Timo Werner is more of a second striker, or inside forward.
I believe that if Broja goes, then we need to sign an out and out number 9, more of a target man style striker who can be useful with his back to goal and linking up play, as well as be a real threat in the box.
Chelsea do not have this profile of striker and I firmly believe that in the Premier League, you need to have players with good physicality, and having a true goalscoring number 9 is an option that The Blues will regret having if they let Broja go, and do not bring in another number 9.
The issue is, there just doesn’t appear to be very many options in the market right now.
