Chelsea: £150m star may have 'come up in talks' at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea may have used West Ham’s interest in Armando Broja to try and gain an advantage in the race to sign Declan Rice, according to Daily Star journalist Paul Brown. 

Broja impressed during a loan spell with Southampton last season and interest has mounted this summer leading to reports that he could leave Stamford Bridge, despite Thomas Tuchel insisting he has no interest in losing the Cobham graduate.

After scoring six goals for the Saints last term, the 20-year-old no doubt proved he has the potential to thrive in the Premier League moving forward. 

But despite Romelu Lukaku departing for Inter Milan on loan, the chances of Broja being given a run in Tuchel’s first-team next season seem slim. 

On Friday evening, Sky Sports reported that West Ham had agreed a £35.5 million deal with Sassuolo for the services of striker Gianluca Scamacca. 

While it is a deal that may indicate a move away from a Broja transfer, reporter Dharmesh Sheth has previously insisted that a move for both strikers had never been ruled out. 

However, stiff competition remains for the signature of the Chelsea ace and i Sport have reported that both Newcastle and Everton are now looking to firm up their interest after news of Scamacca broke. 

Nevertheless, a move for Broja is yet to be ruled out from West Ham’s end and Brown believes that it is possible Chelsea have used their interest in Rice as a bargaining chip in negotiations. 

When asked whether the Blues may have tried to use West Ham’s interest in Broja to gain an advantage in the Rice chase, Brown told GIVEMESPORT: “I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s come up. But from West Ham’s point of view, I think they view the two things as totally separate and are entirely right to do so. From West