Southampton are in advanced talks to sign Armando Broja from Chelsea on a season-long loan deal.
The 19-year-old striker is a Blues youth academy product and spent last season at Vitesse Arnhem. During that time he managed ten goals and two assists in 30 Eredivisie appearances.
Broja recently signed a new five-year contract at Stamford Bridge and had been tipped to challenge for a place in the first-team squad this campaign. He has featured prominently in pre-season, netting in games against Peterborough and Bournemouth.
However, as reported by football.london and others, he seems likely to spend the season on loan at St. Mary’s with the two parties in advanced talks.
Southampton are on the lookout for offensive reinforcements after they lost talisman Danny Ings to Aston Villa recently. Broja adds depth to their ranks and he is unlikely to be the only signing they make before deadline day. Both Adam Armstrong and Odsonne Edouard are targets, as is Schalke’s Matthew Hoppe - as 90min reported last week.
Tammy Abraham is another name that has been linked, though the chances of Southampton completing a deal for the striker are remote. Abraham is attracting interest from across Europe but, according to Gianluca Di Marzio, he seems most likely to end up at Atalanta or Roma as a result of transfer dominoes instigated by Chelsea’s purchase of Romelu Lukaku.
With Lukaku on his way to London, Inter are expected to sign Edin Dzeko, with moves for Andrea Bellotti and Mauro Icardi highly unlikely. They are also interested in Atalanta's Duvan Zapata. This will leave both Serie A clubs in need of a new striker, and Abraham is top of their respective wish lists.
What may give Southampton an edge in negotiations is their strong relationship with Chelsea. Saints have already brought in Blues youngsters Valentino Livramento and Dynel Simeu this summer and Broja is likely to become number three soon.
Source : 90min