West Ham poised to bid £30m for Chelsea’s Broja after signing of Aguerd
West Ham are preparing to launch a £30m bid for the Chelsea striker Armando Broja after strengthening their defence by completing the £29.8m signing of Nayef Aguerd from Rennes.
David Moyes is determined to buy a striker this summer and he is keen to press ahead with a move for Broja. The 20-year-old enjoyed an impressive loan spell at Southampton last season and West Ham want to test Chelsea’s resolve.
Moyes believes that Broja, who joined Chelsea’s academy at the age of nine, would be capable of alternating with Antonio next season. Broja, who has represented Albania at international level, is quick and capable of leading the line. He scored nine goals in all competitions for Southampton last season.
West Ham, who have other targets in attack, could yet find that Chelsea will not accept £30m. Sources have suggested that the Stamford Bridge club, who are in a transitional period following their change of ownership, could demand £40m for the forward. Another complication for West Ham is that there is Broja has also been targeted by Arsenal, Newcastle and Napoli.
Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea’s manager, could also decide that he wants to assess Broja in pre-season. Tuchel is set to lighten his attack by loaning Romelu Lukaku to Internazionale, meaning that Broja could yet force his way into Chelsea’s first team. However West Ham feel there is a good chance of doing a deal this summer.
West Ham are also in the market for a left-back, a left winger and a central midfielder to compete with Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek. They are interested in Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse, but signing the England international would be expensive.
West Ham, who will play in the Europa Confernce League next season, have made an encouraging start to the window. Moyes wanted to sign a leftsided centre-back and he is pleased to have landed Aguerd. The 26-year-old Morocco international was a standout performer in Ligue 1 last season.
Aguerd began his career with FUS Rabat in his homeland before moving to France in 2018 to join Dijon and then transferring to Rennes in 2020. “I was really excited when I heard about West Ham United’s interest,” he said. “When I heard about it, I knew I needed to go to the Premier League, because it’s a dream for every player.
“West Ham is a historic club. I saw a few of their games this year, and I saw the fans and the atmosphere were fantastic, with the bubbles. It was easy to choose to come to West Ham.”