Fulham Football Club has reached an agreement with Premier League rivals Chelsea to secure the loan signing of striker Armando Broja for the remainder of the season, sources have revealed to ESPN. The deal, which is set to be finalized before the deadline, will see Fulham pay a loan fee of £4 million ($5.1 million) for the 22-year-old forward.
Armando Broja, who is scheduled to undergo a medical examination tonight, has found himself surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge. Although there was interest from other clubs such as Wolves and West Ham, Chelsea's initial demands for a permanent sale and a valuation of £50 million ($63.7 million) deterred potential suitors.
However, Chelsea showed some flexibility on deadline day morning by indicating their willingness to sanction a loan move, albeit for a reduced fee of £5 million ($6.4 million). Fulham, through extensive negotiations, managed to further bring down this figure to finalize the deal with London rivals Chelsea.
With just three goals in 38 appearances for Chelsea, Broja has faced challenges in finding his top form under manager Mauricio Pochettino. Additionally, an injury setback earlier in the season saw him miss six games between October and November. His last goal was scored in Chelsea's 4-0 victory over Preston in the FA Cup third-round on January 6.
Fulham, on the other hand, has struggled to find their attacking rhythm following the departure of Aleksandar Mitrovic to Al Hilal in August. The team managed by Marco Silva has only managed to score 28 goals in 22 Premier League games this season, with only Manchester United (24) netting fewer goals among the top 13 teams.
The loan signing of Armando Broja represents an opportunity for Fulham to bolster their attacking options and provide some much-needed firepower in their pursuit of success in the Premier League. With the deal expected to be completed by the deadline, Fulham fans await the arrival of the talented young striker with anticipation.
