West Ham win race for Chelsea star but not in deal they hoped for

West Ham have beaten a number of teams to the signature of Chelsea striker Armando Broja, but it will only be a loan deal rather than the permanent transfer they were hoping for.

The Hammers had made a £30m bid for the Albania international but the Blues do not want to sell him given his great potential.

However, the Daily Mail reports that they have come round to the idea of letting him leave on loan again after his successful stint with Southampton last season.

The report suggest West Ham have settled for a season-long loan and will look to make the deal permanent next summer if they are impressed with the 20-year-old.

That scenario coming to pass does not seem very likely as Chelsea would want to bring him back to Stamford Bridge if he has a good season with the Hammers. The reason they are only willing to loan him out is that they see him as a potential first team star in the future.

Broja is currently with the rest of the Chelsea squad in America as they go through their pre-season preparations and manager Thomas Tuchel was asked about the striker’s future while in the States.

‘Armando is our player first of all and we have, at the moment, no interest in selling him,’ Tuchel told reporters.

‘He is here to make an impression after he was on loan in Southampton. That’s his situation from where we look up front. It’s good if there’s interest as it shows us there’s talent and potential.

‘It shows us that Armando is in the position to impress and become a Chelsea player.

‘When will he become a Chelsea player? Nobody knows but hopefully as soon as possible.’

Broja did not register remarkable numbers while on loan with Southampton last season, scoring six Premier League goals and nine in all competitions.

His performances