Eddie Howe is trying to sign a striker before the start of the new Premier League season but hasn’t had much luck agreeing a deal for any of Newcastle United’s transfer targets.
The worst-case scenario is that he goes into the new campaign with Callum Wilson, Chris Wood or Joelinton, but Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie says the Magpies boss his eye on another centre-forward.
Chelsea striker Armando Broja is believed to be on Newcastle’s radar and Downie told Give Me Sport that he wouldn’t rule out a move. He said: “Absolutely. I know for a fact he’s definitely on the list. I’m reading between the lines a little bit, but I don’t think I would rule that one out totally yet.”
The 20-year-old has risen through the youth ranks to the fringes of Chelsea’s first-team, scoring 16 goals with five assists from 35 games for the U18s, scoring two goals from five games for the U19s and scoring three goals from 13 games for the U23s.
Broja’s inability to get in the first-team resulted in him being loaned out to Vitesse (August 2020 – June 2021) and Southampton (August 2021 – May 2022). He scored 11 goals with three assists from 34 games for Vitesse and scored nine goals with one assist from 38 games for Southampton.
The Albanian international, who boasts four goals with two assists from 14 games, looks to have a bright future as he doesn’t turn 21 until September. He led the line for Southampton last season, so Howe might trust that he can do the same in the North-East.
In other news, Eddie Howe might resist paying £45m for Ivan Toney
