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Everton to step up interest in Armando Broja after West Ham United drop out of race
Everton are set to progress talks with Chelsea for striker Armando Broja after West Ham dropped out of the race for his signature, according to iNews.
The Hammers had been seen as the favourites to sign the 20-year-old Albanian international after tabling an offer worth £30.5m, but the Blues are reluctant to sanction a permanent deal and so they have moved on to sign Gianluca Scamacca.
That has opened the door for Frank Lampard and Kevin Thelwell to move back in to the race as they look to replace Richarlison following his £60m sale to Tottenham earlier this summer.
Broja wants a permanent move to seal regular first-team football, but Newcastle are interested in a loan deal and Chelsea would prefer that option as they are yet to make a decision on his long-term future.
Lampard is said to want three more players and is also interested in Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour on loan, with an initial approach for Broja made earlier in the window.
Major deal
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Everton fans have had a tough time of it over the last 12 months, from seeing Rafa Benitez as their manager to narrowly avoiding relegation and then getting thumped 4-0 in pre-season by an MLS side.
After losing Richarlison earlier in the window it seemed certain that the club would reinvest that money into strengthening the squad, and yet just two weeks prior to the season starting no money has been spent and only James Tarkowski has arrived.
With the rest of the league getting stronger, this is simply unacceptable. Broja would represent a turning point in the transfer window and get fans back into a joyous mood.
He’s a top young talent that Lampard knows well, having given him his Premier League debut while manager at Chelsea, and he would help us address a problem area with Richarlison’s goals gone and Calvert-Lewin’s injury troubles.
The money is available and the deal is there to be done, so there are no excuses for Everton not to seal it.