According to reports, Fulham have beaten Wolves in the race to sign Chelsea and Albania striker Armando Broja on loan.
All eyes have been on the Broja transfer saga as not much else of note is happening on deadline day.
Earlier this week, Chelsea turned down a straight loan bid from Premier League rivals Wolves for Broja. It has been suggested that the Blues were initially only interested in a permanent exit and valued the forward at around £50m.
Understandably, Premier League clubs scoffed at this high asking price as Broja has only scored one goal in his 13 league appearances this season.
On Thursday evening, Football Insider revealed Wolves are ‘rivalling Fulham in the late-window race’ to sign Broja. The report added.
‘It is believed Chelsea are now open to loan offers for Broja in a U-turn on their original stance on the Albania international’s future.
‘Football Insider previously revealed (22 January) that Chelsea want around £50million for the ex-Southampton loanee.
‘West Ham had previously held an interest in the forward but baulked at the Blues’ valuation.
‘But sources now say the Stamford Bridge club are now willing to loan the striker out again – but want any deal to include an option or obligation clause.’
Moments after The Athletic’s David Ornstein has since revealed that ‘Chelsea are close to agreeing for Broja to leave the club on loan’, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano dropped the ‘here we go’ bomb.
He tweeted: “Armando Broja to Fulham, here we go! Agreement reached on loan until the end of the season for £4m fee to Chelsea.
“Broja will complete medical tests tonight in order to sign later.”
Journalist Ben Jacobs added: “Armando Broja set to join Fulham on loan for a fee that could rise to £4m. Medical already booked.”
Chelsea have sanctioned this transfer despite Mauricio Pochettino saying earlier this month that the striker has “amazing potential”.
“[Scoring in the 4-0 win against Preston] was really important for him,” Pochettino said. “I need to be honest, he needs to use this type of game to score and to feel the net and to improve. Improve not only in his fitness but his body language also. He needs to step up and to go forward and to move. He needs to smile more and be more positive.
“The potential is amazing. We’re talking about one of the young strikers in England and in Europe with most potential. But the problem now is he needs to push himself, and we’re going to try to help him to realise that never it is enough.
“He was nearly one year away (injured) and of course now he needs time. It’s not easy for him to perform and to be at the level we expect. Our expectation is massive and we really believe in him. We’re going to push him to improve every day.
“I said to him smile. Always we joke about how he needs to smile, to laugh, to put inside himself more good energy and be more happy, a happy boy.”
