For as much as Chelsea have been criticised for not doing enough to keep previous youth players at the club for long enough to integrate them into the first team, their most impending departure has made his own mind up regardless of club desires.
As Thomas Tuchel looks to supplement his big money moves for Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly, not to mention the possible incomings being worked on, with returning loan players including Ethan Ampadu, Conor Gallagher and Levi Colwill, one of the parts to his initial plan is set to leave.
Chelsea have come under criticism for their management of loan players and rising academy graduates, but they are about to feel the sting as a star attacker closes in on a move away from the club despite being offered the club's assurances of game time.
READ MORE: What Thomas Tuchel told Kalidou Koulibaly before Chelsea training as shock decision is explained
Having opted for to prove his worth at Southampton last season, given the arrival of Romelu Lukaku made Armando Broja a third choice striker, many thought he would return to be a Chelsea player for the upcoming season. Especially now Lukaku has left the club it leaves a rotation and even starting striker spot open in Tuchel's system, but football.london understands that Broja is now on the verge of leaving the club once more.
West Ham have made an offer of £30m plus add-ons for the 20-year-old, though the Blues are still making a decision as to if sanctioning a permanent deal for Broja is within their interests. The club had been hopeful of keeping the player this season, especially with a contract until 2026, but the former-Vitesse and Saints forward has made his personal choice, and it doesn't involve staying at Stamford Bridge.
football.london understands that he was initially happy with the arrangement on loan last season, feeling that playing under Ralph Hassenhuttl was a good way to build league experience and develop himself. After some promising bursts of form on the south coast, the Austrian manager was quick to assert himself and the club onto Broja.
This was a quick rise for Broja who went from being given his first true preseason opportunity under Tuchel last season, which he took with an impressive set of performances in friendlies, to being a sought after young forward. His breakthrough season at Southampton saw him score six league goals.
At this point it is believed that Broja was keen to keep his options open with interest already sparking from within the league and also in Europe too. Though any possibility of returning to Southampton was ended even before Chelsea were put up for sale due to a souring relationship with Saints.
With the ownership change being ongoing and Chelsea's squad thinning due to player departures on loan and free transfers, Broja's spot in the Blues squad looked secure, if he wanted to return. Although Tuchel wasn't prepared to offer the Albanian anything initially, likewise with Levi Colwill who is being looked at in America, the club wanted to Broja to return and train with the first team and let Tuchel make a decision. However the player is believed to have been strong in his feelings that leaving the club would open up better opportunities and seemingly couldn't be swayed by Tuchel once he arrived for preseason just under one week ago.
He has now been released back to London with the German manager stating it was better for his injury recovery, though with the Hammers close to a deal to purchase the player, the actual extent to his fitness issues might not have been severe enough to take him from the USA training camp alone.
His move to London rivals West Ham is still subject to being ironed out, with the possibility of a buy-back clause still being discussed, but the chances of him being a part of the Blues squad for next season is now extremely unlikely.
This could be seen as similar to the way in which Tammy Abraham left less than 12 months ago, but due to Broja's own personal choice being such a strong driving factor in this move, it wouldn't be a strong comparison. Both parties in the case of Abraham were willing to go their separate ways, in this instance Chelsea have been left by Broja's own determination to force through a star spot at another club, supported by the belief that there isn't a strong enough position for him to take at Chelsea.
Tuchel will now likely have to add a new striker to his never-ending list of summer transfer targets.
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