Chelsea are keen to clear the decks to ensure they don't fall foul of the PSR rules, one of the players they are keen to sell is Armando Broja and their agents are working hard to put him in the shop window.

Some Saints supporters will be heartened to hear that Southampton are one of a number of clubs linked to Armando Broja,whilst others do not consider his time at the club during which he notched 6 Premier League goals a big success.

The truth of the matter though is that Chelsea are looking to sell rather than loan and any club seen to need a striker is being linked.

Saints, Wolves and Everton are all named by the72.co.uk as potential suitors, although they also say that all three clubs would need to sell to raise the money and could well be priced out.

After leaving St Mary's after his season on loan, Broja's stock was high, some valuations had him as being worth near on £40 million, however it is believed that his value now has dropped to £20 million and this is the starting price that Chelsea are looking for and will hope they can start an auction.

When he left Saints Broja felt his future was at Chelsea, after all he had signed a new deal before heading South to St Mary's, what he hadn't realised was that was more a case of the Blues protecting their transfer value than seeing him as a genuine first team regular.

Since leaving Southampton Broja has not flourished although in fairness a big part of that was a cruciate injury suffered the following season after his departure

At Saints he played 33 Premier League games and scored just 6 goals with the worrying trend that he did not score any of those in his final 3 1/2 months and 14 games of the season.

In 22/23 his first season back at Stamford Bridge he would play 12 times and score just once in the Premier League before his cruciate ligament injury ended his season.

In 23/24 he was back in the squad he would make 14 appearances for Chelsea in the Premier League scoring just once before joining Fulham in the second half of the season.

His time at Craven Cottage was not successful, he would play just 8 times out of a possible 15 games and he would not score.

So that means in his last 48 games encompassing Southampton, Chelsea & Fulham he has scored just 2 goals.

It is not surprising that it is not top clubs who are being linked with Broja, but clubs from the lower half of the Premier League, those who are seen as needing a new striker.

But is Armado Broja worth £20 million, I would say no and the other issue will be wages, Broja is under contract under 2028 and his weekly wage will be significantly more than Southampton's wage structure and for that matter both Wolves and Everton, especially Everton given that they themselves are under severe financial pressure at the moment.

So I don't think this rumour has much legs, even before taking into account that Broja is a direct style centre forward with a hustle bustle style, rather than the type that Russell martin tends to like, players who make runs off the ball and contribute in other areas.

That is not Broja's style, if he is not getting the ball he is not in the game, nothing wrong with that, there are plenty of players who play that way with great results, but that is not the current Southampton way.

Photo: Action Images

underweststand added 11:58 - Jun 12 Given our situation at the time we loaned Broja... he DAJFU and scored a few goals before he was crocked around Christmas and never got back to his early season form. Chelsea are just one of the big money Prem. clubs looking to clear out their bench players who aren't " their sort of Prem. player " and bring in fresh blood. Should we have him back ?....if all else fails and we can afford to meet the asking price, it might be a necessity to buy him as a partner for Adam A. , but I think there are others in line before we get to his name. Probably not.

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Jesus_02 added 12:07 - Jun 12 In the Championship we were a top team without a clinical striker. We had to play as we did. In the Prem we are not the same proposition. The final is probably more indicative of how we will play. Broja could be a good option, IF he is the best we can afford. If we can get him for 20m it could represent a great deal and a Che upgrade. My reservations are his cruciate ligament injury and his mentality both are a bit random at 22/23. Personally I can see him going to Everton

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DellBoyWally added 14:32 - Jun 12 Even with us he had a great spell before fading even before injury. Done nothing over past couple of seasons. A NO from me. There are far better options at more sensible prices and wages. Definitely not a CheA upgrade. Give Ross Stewart a go. I think he could come good in the PL
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allsaint54 added 16:48 - Jun 12 No no no. 20 mill for an injury prone non goal scorer makes absolutely no sense
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amsterdamsaint added 21:41 - Jun 12 No. And no Lalana or Ings either.
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Monksway added 15:40 - Jun 13 Agree with last comment. Hope it's just lazy journalism that links us with Broja, JWP, Ings, Lallana etc. New start, give the promoted players a chance and add some genuinely new faces ( plus Flynn Downes of course)
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