Armando Broja is poised to depart Chelsea on deadline day as Fulham secures a six-month loan deal for the forward valued at £4m ($5m). Despite earlier interest from Wolves, Chelsea rejected their approach, and now Fulham, their west London neighbors, have reached an agreement. Broja’s loan comes with a fee that could reach £4m based on performance-related add-ons.

This move reflects Chelsea’s acknowledgment of the challenging market conditions. Initially demanding £50m ($64m), they lowered the asking price to £35m ($45m) before settling for a straightforward loan with no obligation to buy. While the loan provides Broja with more playing time, Mauricio Pochettino is left with a thin frontline, heavily relying on Nicolas Jackson and the injury-hit Christopher Nkunku as the only other high-quality option. Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer have occasionally played as false nines but aren’t seen as viable long-term solutions.

This decision by Chelsea’s owners seems to be a strategic move to boost the market value of a homegrown player, potentially affecting Pochettino’s squad. Chelsea fans express concern about a similar fate for Conor Gallagher, linked to a move to rivals Tottenham despite his regular appearances under the Argentine this season.