Armando Broja’s loan situation at Fulham could lead to further complications around Chelsea keeping Conor Gallagher.
Both players had £50million market valuations on them at the start of 2024 yet as we head towards summer those numbers are in decline.
Gallagher scored the winning goal against Leeds United on Wednesday night in the FA Cup and his form this term suggests Chelsea would be best served to give him a new contract, with his current deal expiring at the end of next season.
But no new agreement is close, despite the player wanting to stay, and the club’s overall financial situation has to be considered before they can reward him.
Chelsea’s PSR (profit & sustainability rules) situation appears ominous and the prospect of selling homegrown talent remains one way to fix that.
Many at the club feel selling Gallagher would be a mistake – and now his £50million price-point is dropping anyway.
Tottenham are most heavily linked to the player and while they do have genuine interest the opinion of insiders at the club is that they would likely go in below the £30million mark for Gallagher, given he would have one year remaining.
Chelsea Transfer News Exclusive
A new layer of doubt that clouds Gallagher’s future comes in the shape of Broja. He joined Fulham on loan in hope extended game-time and goals would boost his form and confidence and prove he was the £50million asset Chelsea have been touting him as.
Yet he was an unused substitute against Manchester United at the weekend and has played just 31 minutes of football since his switch across West London. If his value drops, Chelsea might have to continue to see a Gallagher sale as an option.
Broja is stuck behind Rodrigo Muniz in the pecking order, having seen the Brazilian forward inject new life into his career since Broja arrived.
Muniz had started just three Premier League games all season before Broja arrived – but has started all four since he came in.
Broja has been limited to brief substitute outings against Burnley and Bournemouth, while missing the Aston Villa fixture entirely due to illness.
The terms of Broja’s temporary deal means Fulham would pay as little as £500,000 loan fee if he starts 10 matches or more for the Whites before the end of the season.
Yet if he does not hit that number Fulham will have to stump up £4million. With just 12 matches of the season remaining, it looks likely Fulham will be taking a hit – but in turn Chelsea will feel the strain of his valuation dipping.
Sources have indicated to SportsLens that other interested clubs – such as Wolves and West Ham – have seen Broja as a £25million striker based on the form of the past two seasons and his injury record.
That is half the price Chelsea want to boost their financial situation and they will be hoping to see Broja get new life soon at Fulham, who host Brighton at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
More Chelsea transfer news exclusives are sure to surface in the coming months following a poor season by the west London side’s standards.
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