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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Chris Beesley

Update provided on future of Everton transfer target after training injury fears

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has played down injury fears over Armando Broja, but Everton will have to wait to try and sign the forward.

There were concerns that the 20-year-old - who has been linked with a move to Everton, Premier League rivals West Ham United and Napoli - who the west London outfit have just signed Kalidou Koulibaly from - could potentially face a lengthy spell on the sidelines after he was photographed being driven away from his club's US training camp with a crutch and wearing a protective boot but while Tuchel has revealed the Albanian international's issue is not as serious as it might have seemed, potential suitors might still have to wait to prise him away from Stamford Bridge, be it on a permanent deal or another loan.

Broja, who has been seeking reassurances over his Chelsea future, had showdown talks with the club before they crossed the Atlantic, and joined the party later than the bulk of the main group, flying over with new signing Raheem Sterling. It is understood that Tuchel wants to assess the youngster over Chelsea's friendly matches before making a final decision on whether he will be part of his plans this season.

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Speaking ahead of their game against Mexican side Club America in Las Vegas, he said: "Broja had a little accident yesterday in training with the ball control and landed in a funny way on his ankle and Achilles. He is in pain but nothing is injured – we did the examinations and it's just pain.

"He is lucky that he did not get injured. We are lucky and happy that he did not injure himself. He is not in training and he is in treatment.

"Armando is our player first of all and we have, at the moment, no interest in selling him. He is here to make an impression after he was on loan in Southampton.

"That's his situation from where we look up front. It's good if there's interest as it shows us there's talent and potential.

"It shows us that Armando is in the position to impress and become a Chelsea player. When will he become a Chelsea player? Nobody knows but hopefully as soon as possible.

"He got injured and there's a delay for him, which is never nice because a young player should normally make an impression from the first minute in pre-season. Now we have a bit of a delay in that but that's the situation."

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