Armando Broja: Chelsea reject loan bid from Wolves as transfer race hots up

Chelsea have rejected an opening bid from Wolves to sign Armando Broja on a loan.

The Blues are ready to cash in on the 22-year-old, so will only consider a permanent sale or a loan move with an obligation to buy included. Wolves did not include a buy option and are understood to be reluctant to commit to an obligation.

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Broja has only scored two goals in 19 games this season after returning from 10 months out with a serious knee injury.

The Albanian is one of just two out-and-out strikers Mauricio Pochettino's squad - the other being Nicolas Jackson - but the club believes buying a replacement is not a must should he leave.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Pochettino said he expects a "quiet" end to the transfer window: "There is nothing to communicate [on Broja]. All is quiet and we are so relaxed here."

Jackson is back from the Africa Cup of Nations after Senegal were on Monday knocked out by hosts Ivory Coast. Christopher Nkunku, who can play as a striker, is also back in training before the trip to face Liverpool on Wednesday night.

Chelsea will ultimately try to replace Broja but could wait until the summer, when they will likely find a more favourable market for strikers, with Napoli's Victor Osimhen and Brentford's Ivan Toney expected to be on the move.

The sale of academy players will help balance the books amid new Premier League profit and sustainability legislation.

Conor Gallagher is a target for Tottenham and Atletico Madrid have shown an interest in Trevoh Chalobah, but neither player is expected to move before the transfer window closes at 11pm BST on February 1.