Frank Lampard ‘driving’ Everton interest in Armando Broja this summer
Frank Lampard is “driving” the interest from Everton in Chelsea striker Armando Broja, with a £30m bid on the table according to the Evening Standard.
The Albanian international is a target for several Premier League clubs after shining while out on loan at Southampton last season, scoring six goals in 32 games for the Saints.
But after returning to Chelsea and initially being left out of their plans for the pre-season tour of the USA, the club have now flown him out to be part of the squad which suggests a deal is some way off being done.
According to a report on July 13th in the Standard, Everton’s interest in the 20-year-old is being pushed primarily by the manager who gave him a chance at Stamford Bridge initially.
Half a dozen meetings have been held between executives at Chelsea directly about the future of Broja and whether to accept the offers on the table, but a decision is yet to have been made.
Connections
Lampard is known to use his connections in the game well, bringing in several loans when at Derby from Stamford Bridge and now looking to return again while Everton boss.
Lampard will know Broja well after handing him his Chelsea and Premier League debut back in March 2020, and with Richarlison leaving the club he is keen to add goals and an attacking presence to the team once again.
It will be hard to stave off competition from West Ham and Newcastle, who have far for financial firepower than the Toffees in this window, but Lampard is clearly confident he can get a deal done.
He would take pressure off Anthony Gordon and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but also add great quality to the side that is lacking in depth in attacking areas especially.
Everton must work towards giving Lampard what he wants for the upcoming season, or risk facing another campaign of battling relegation in 2022/23.