Chelsea agree to send striker on season-long loan deal - report
- Chelsea strike deal to send Armando Broja to Ipswich
- Striker expected to sign initial loan with possible obligatory purchase clause
- Romelu Lukaku also in talks to leave for Napoli
By Tom Gott
Chelsea have struck a deal to send striker Armando Broja to Ipswich Town on a season-long loan, reports have revealed.
The 22-year-old academy graduate has been made available for transfer this summer after an underwhelming loan spell with Fulham which saw him fail to score across eight appearances in the second half of last season.
As first revealed by the East Anglian Daily Times, Broja has agreed to spend the 2024/25 season on loan with Premier League newcomers Ipswich.
Broja is set to become the second Chelsea player to head for Ipswich this summer, joining young winger Omari Hutchinson, who made a permanent switch to Portman Road after a dazzling loan spell last season.
Fabrizio Romano adds that the deal between Chelsea and Ipswich includes an obligation for Ipswich to make the move for Broja permanent next summer if they manage to avoid relegation. The fee will be close to £30m.
Broja may not be the only striker to depart Chelsea this summer as the Blues remain keen to offload Romelu Lukaku.
The Belgian international is wanted by Antonio Conte at Napoli and Gianluca Di Marzio revealed the Serie A side recently offered a €5m (£4.3m) loan fee with an obligatory purchase clause worth €25m (£21.3m).
Chelsea are believed to have rejected the approach as they hold out for a fee closer to their £37m asking price.
A loan to Napoli, while also taking up a valuable overseas loan spot, would also be a problem for Chelsea because it would allow the Serie A side to strike a deal without needing to sell Victor Osimhen, who Chelsea hope to recruit before the end of the transfer window.
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