Broja out on loan as Blues’ £50m demand falls flat
YOU could almost hear the tumbleweed blow through Premier League HQ last night as Armando Broja completed his anticipated move from
CHELSEA to FULHAM.
The window did not slam shut, it was delicately put back on the latch to end one of the most underwhelming transfer periods in recent memory.
Broja’s trundle across west London represented the most high-profile deal and will cost Fulham an initial £750,000, and up to £4million depending on how many games the striker starts.
It was a significant climbdown from Chelsea as they had quoted Wolves and Fulham up to £50m for the 22-year-old earlier this week. Their hope is that the Albania international boosts his value by the summer so he can be sold and the cash reinvested in a striker such as Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST, who face potential sanction for their spending, still showed a penchant to wheel and deal. They made so many moves for goalkeepers yesterday that even Peter Shilton must have thought he had a chance of a comeback. After exhausting talks with
CRYSTAL PALACE for Sam Johnstone, they had a £15m bid for
LIVERPOOL’S Caoimhin Kelleher rejected before trying Rui Silva of Real Betis (see right) and Koen Casteels of Wolfsburg. Ultimately, they brought in Belgium’s Matz Sels, 31, for £5million.
Forest allowed keeper Ethan Horvath to join CARDIFF while Orel Mangala joined Lyon, Joe Worrall set off to speak to
SHEFFIELD UNITED and Serge Aurier agreed a move to Galatasaray.
Forest tried and failed to land Ajax forward Chuba Akpom but added Gio Reyna on loan from Borussia Dortmund and Ruben Ribeiro from Sporting Lisbon. Pablo Fornals watched WEST
HAM’S draw with Bournemouth but had a medical prior to his £7m switch to Real Betis. The 27-year-old’s exit was preceded by that of team-mate Said Benrahma, who flew to Lyon to complete a loan move that could cost up to £17m if made permanent.
BOURNEMOUTH signed Getafe’s former Manchester City striker Enes Unal on an initial loan which includes an obligation to buy for £14m. That allowed Kieffer Moore to join IPSWICH on loan. ASTON
VILLA completed the £15m signing of Morgan Rogers from
MIDDLESBROUGH.
CRYSTAL PALACE signed midfielder Adam Wharton for £22.5m from BLACKBURN who moved to add LIVERPOOL defender Billy Koumetio on loan. TOTTENHAM convinced 17-year-old Sweden midfielder Lucas Bergvall to join them instead of Barcelona from Djurgardens. He will have a medical before signing a five-year contract. Spurs striker Alejo Veliz joined Sevilla on loan.
NEWCASTLE had hoped for grander deals but still signed midfielder Alfie Harrison, 18, from
MANCHESTER CITY and allowed Isaac Hayden to join QPR on loan. City youngster Josh WilsonEsbrand joined CARDIFF on loan.
MANCHESTER UNITED sold midfielder Isak Hansen-Aaroen, 19, to Werder Bremen but will retain a sell-on clause and matching rights. Mason Holgate curtailed his loan at Southampton to move from EVERTON to SHEFFIELD
UNITED until the end of the season. BURNLEY confirmed the arrival of centre back Maxime Esteve from Montpellier and agreed to let right back Connor Roberts go on loan to LEEDS, who sent Ian Poveda to SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY till the summer. BRIGHTON added Caylan Vickers, 19, from READING and SUNDERLAND’S Josh Robertson, 18. Jesse Lingard, agreed a surprise two-year deal with FC Seoul.