The Hammers have proposed a deal worth £30m to Chelsea for striker Armando Broja, who scored nine goals in 38 games in all competitions on loan at Southampton last season; West Ham are still awaiting a response from Lille after they made an improved, third offer for Amadou Onana
Tuesday 19 July 2022 22:01, UK
West Ham are in advanced talks to sign Chelsea forward Armando Broja and are awaiting a response from Lille over the potential transfer of midfielder Amadou Onana.
The Hammers have proposed a deal worth £30m to Chelsea for striker Broja, 20, who scored nine goals in 38 games in all competitions on loan at Southampton last season.
It is thought West Ham are prepared to pay £25m up front for the Albania international. Negotiations continue between the clubs and are now at an advanced stage
Broja has flown back from Chelsea's pre-season tour of the USA and will have treatment on an injury he sustained there. It is not thought to be serious.
West Ham have been among several Premier League clubs interested in signing Broja this summer including Everton, Newcastle and Southampton.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed the club have received offers for Broja but he expects him to stay at Stamford Bridge.
"I don't expect him to leave. I'm aware of the offers and aware of the interest. We will make a decision together, the owner and me and the player," Tuchel said during a press conference on Tuesday.
"When he arrived it's clear he's trying to impress and become a Chelsea player. After his Southampton loan it's clear he wants to make the next step. Unfortunately, he got injured and there is now a lot of interest in him. Lets see how that goes. He has a contract here.
"We have a lot of options but not the type of Armando. Last season with him and Conor Gallagher we always have to weigh up what's good for them and the club. Is there a prospect of him getting minutes here? He has already played in the Premier League. With Armando we have to look at the situation very carefully and individually and decide do we have the minutes we can offer so he can grow here or give him another loan to give him match minutes."
David Moyes is also in search of a boost in midfield and West Ham are still awaiting a response from Lille after they made an improved, third offer for Amadou Onana.
The latest bid is thought to be around £32.3m (€38m) plus add-ons which Lille are seriously considering.
They signed 20-year-old Onana from Hamburg for €7m last summer so stand to make a significant profit on the Belgium international who made 11 starts and 21 sub appearances in France's Ligue 1 last season.
Meanwhile, West Ham remain in discussions with Sassuolo over the signing of striker Gianluca Scamacca.
Sassuolo's chief executive has claimed Moyes' side have made a bid of €40m (£33.9m) plus add-ons.
Signing both Broja and Scamacca has not been ruled out.
The Hammers are also awaiting a decision from Jesse Lingard.
An offer is on the table for the midfielder and he is expected to announce his next club soon.
Lingard is a free agent after his Manchester United contract came to an end on June 30.
West Ham's first signing of the summer window was defender Nayef Aguerd, who joined from Rennes for £30m, and they also activated an option to buy goalkeeper Alphonse Areola for £7.75m from Paris Saint-Germain after his successful loan stint last season.
Moyes is looking to improve his squad ahead of a season that will see West Ham combine Premier League improvement with a first Europa Conference League campaign.
Broja's key strengths are in areas which often slip under the radar. He excels at regaining possession in the final third, winning aerials and running with the ball at his feet.
In fact, only five players recovered more possession in attacking areas last term - despite the Albanian starting only 21 league games.
In addition to being among the league's elite players for pressing from the front, he also ranks among the top 10 for fast breaks.
Despite his limited game time, the 20-year-old clocked 112 touches in the opposition box - achieved by deft movement, creating space and carrying the ball into dangerous areas.
Drilling deeper into his returns over a brief professional career to date, the youngster has produced 20 goals from just 48 starts across all competitions - an impressive strike-rate, given he has also been hooked off 35 times.
Who will be on the move this summer before the transfer window closes at 11pm on September 1.
Keep up-to-date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports' digital platforms. You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on Sky Sports News.
