'Transfer latest...' - Scott Wilson says 'NUFC target' has now left club's pre-season tour early

Newcastle United could lose out to Premier League rivals West Ham United in the race to sign Armando Broja from Chelsea, according to The Northern Echo.

The Magpies have made ‘a number of enquiries‘ about the availability of the 20-year-old striker this summer. Eddie Howe has identified the Albanian as an alternative to Hugo Ekitike, who has instead joined Paris Saint-Germain.

Both Newcastle and West Ham have indicated that they are willing to meet Chelsea’s demands for the forward, who spent last season on loan at Southampton; and Thomas Tuchel has now decided that Broja does not figure in his plans for next season at least.

Scott Wilson of The Northern Echo shared an update on Broja on Monday morning, with the Chelsea youngster having left the club’s pre-season tour early to sort out his future.

Sharing a link to his corresponding article for the aforementioned publication, he tweeted: “TRANSFER LATEST: #NUFC target Armando Broja is flying back from Chelsea’s US tour to resolve his future – but West Ham are now strong favourites to beat Newcastle to a season-long loan deal…”

According to The Northern Echo, it has effectively come down to Broja’s choice, with both Newcastle and West Ham ready to stump up the required loan fee and pay the expected portion of his salary.

For the moment, the London Stadium might remain a more attractive destination than St James’ Park for the Albanian. That’s partly because West Ham, who have finished in the top seven of the Premier League in the last two seasons, are due to play in the 2022/23 Europa Conference League.

Newcastle’s project is very ambitious – they want to be competing for the biggest trophies in football – but given that the takeover only went through last autumn, it’s