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Football London
Football London
Sport
Anita Abayomi

Armando Broja future in the balance as Thomas Tuchel faces brutal Chelsea academy exits

Many Premier League sides are looking to sign Chelsea's Armando Broja, and the scary part is that the Blues may be considering it. CBS journalist Ben Jacobs reports that the Albanian is ready to move clubs permanently if he is not given 'instant' game time.

Broja had made his mark on loan to Premier League club Southampton last season. Unsurprisingly, he was classified as yet another Cobham talent who could make it in the Chelsea first-team if given a chance. It looks like the Albanian striker believes so too and is adamant about that opportunity to play in the first team. However, he is also not afraid to venture elsewhere if another club comes knocking.

Broja being a strong, dominant forward on and off the ball sets him aside from Thomas Tuchel's current selection of attackers. He is almost Didier Drogba-like in his play and, with the correct coaching, could become a menacing striker. Something the Blues have lacked since Diego Costa in 2017.

READ MORE: Raheem Sterling's first words after completing £45m transfer to Chelsea from Manchester City

As pre-season commences, the Blues traditionally work with some of their homegrown talents in an attempt to integrate them with the squad. Before Frank Lampard's arrival, which saw a shift in the use of the youth, only Callum Hudson-Odoi had a recent success story. Coming through the ranks at Chelsea right now there is Dujon Sterling, Ian Maatsen, Levi Colwill, Lewis Hall and Harvey Vale, to mention a few. They have all been spotted in pre-season training with Tuchel. Broja has joined them in Los Angeles despite rumours of his departure.

If Chelsea were to go the route they deployed last summer in selling incredible talents such as Marc Guehi and Tino Livramento to invest in record signing Romelu Lukaku, then Broja will not be the only player that could make their exit to fund a move. The transfer of Kalidou Koulibaly and rumours for Presnel Kimpembe and Nathan Ake could push Levi Colwill out the door with him.

Levi Colwill has racked up interest from Premier League clubs, including Leicester City, Southampton, and Crystal Palace. Maatsen had interest from clubs in the Premier League before deciding on a loan move to Burnley. Chelsea could face losing both and possibly even Ethan Ampadu and Billy Gilmour in hopes of balancing the books if they are to fund de Ligt's current wages.

The future of some of Chelsea's Cobham graduates is up in the air at the moment, but fortunately, they will be spending pre-season with the first team. Having full autonomy over his squad rebuild, Tuchel will surely be looking for those who fit his vision. However, if he makes the wrong call with some of Chelsea fan favourites, the terrace may not be so forgiving. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out, and last summer's transfer window exits should be a reason not just to disregard Cobham graduates.

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