Former Liverpool and Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp believes Chelsea loanee Armando Broja could be the answer to Thomas Tuchel's long-term striker problem amid fresh Robert Lewandowski transfer talks.
Broja, 26, started his Saints loan on fire but has since struggled to find his goalscoring touch which also evaded him in Ralph Hasenhuttl's sides' latest loss at the hands of title and quadruple chasing Liverpool.
He was rated as a six out of 10 in HampshireLive's ratings from the contest with the justification: "Got into a couple of good positions early on and was denied by Alisson's feet. He worked hard up front on his own for large periods, running the channels and closing down the Liverpool defenders. He was isolated up top for the vast majority of the game though."
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Considering nothing was on the line for the side from the South Coast who are practically all safe from the drop, they put in a valiant display and were only defeated courtesy of a freak Joel Matip header which keeps Man City on their toes ahead of Sunday. The Albanian forward had one noticeable shot within the first 10 minutes from a tight angle but it was easy work for Alisson Becker. Other than that, his link-up and hold up play still requires a lot of improvement before he can be considered a first-team mainstay in a Chelsea team.
Maybe that's why Hasenhuttl believes another loan next year would be great for his development despite Tuchel's insistence to fast track his progress by offering the 20-year-old a place in his first-team squad, depending on how well he fares in pre-season training. “At this moment it is not easy to negotiate with Chelsea. There is no question, and it is not surprising that I want him to stay here another year," the Austrian said a few weeks ago via The Athletic.
“I know this would be good for him.” It's a sentiment that many more Blues fans on social media are waking up to despite the initial hype around the striker's potential inclusion next season amid Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner having uncertain futures ahead of the summer transfer window.
@loisimon_ questioned: "Chelsea fans that want broja in the team next season. One question. Why?''
@jakeheasman admitted: "The more I watch Broja, the less I think he suits our style of play. Only effective when he’s got space to run in behind. Would try and loan him to a possession-based team next season. Needs to adapt his game if he wants a chance at Chelsea. Big talent tho."
@FutbolSW6 reckons: "Broja really needs another season out on loan, some of his hold up play is so a**."
A comment to which @HLlozana replied: "you have seen the light."
Robert Lewandowski is the talk amongst the fans online at this moment with The Guardian linking the Polish international to a potential Chelsea move and despite other pundits telling soon-to-be new owner Todd Boehly about the better suitability of the likes of Lautaro Martinez and Harry Kane over Bayern Munich's second all-time top goalscorer.
Nonetheless, Jamie Redknapp reckons Broja could be the answer to the Lewandowski conundrum with his glowing report of the loanee who has many attributes that could suit this current Chelsea team including his 'pace.'
"He had a great start. When he first came on loan, he was scoring goals, and he has got unbelievable pace. I have been watching him since he was 14/15-years-old, I watched him at Chelsea, and it has been a really successful loan for him, it has worked really well," Redknapp said on Sky Sports' midweek coverage of Liverpool's win over Southampton.
"He has had a really good season and he is an impressive young man."
Chelsea fans - Do you think Armando Broja is ready for a squad role next season or should he be sent on another loan to allow a new striker like Robert Lewandowski to sign? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
