West Ham target Chelsea striker Armando Broja but transfer uncertainty holds up talks

West Ham United are attempting to sign Armando Broja but have been left frustrated by Chelsea not yet quoting a price for the 20-year-old striker.

The move follows the announcement that Morocco defender Nayef Aguerd is joining West Ham from Ligue 1 club Rennes for £30 million.

Broja is not the only forward that West Ham have shown interest in buying but he is currently their No 1 target after a successful season-long loan spell with Southampton.

Sources have suggested that Chelsea will demand up to £30 million for Broja who is an Albanian international but was born in Berkshire and joined the club’s academy at the age of nine. Broja has made just one first team appearance for Chelsea – as an 86th minute substitute in 2020 - and is understood to be for sale this summer.

However the change of ownership at the club is believed to have slowed down negotiations on transfer deals and West Ham are still attempting to establish the exact price that Chelsea would demand for Broja before making their bid.

West Ham have a long list of targets as they attempt to strengthen their squad this summer after finishing seventh in the Premier League and reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League. They want a striker, a left-back and cover in the centre of midfield for Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek.

David Moyes’ first priority, however, was to strengthen his options in central defence – on the left side - and he has achieved that by signing Aguerd.

The 26-year-old, who has 25 caps for Morocco and was an ever-present in his country's run to last season's Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals, has signed a five-year contract and said: "West Ham is a historic club. I saw a few of their games this year, and I saw the fans and the atmosphere