Transfer news and rumours LIVE: Arsenal identify Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replacement but face Chelsea transfer battle

Posted Monday, February 14, 2022 by Dailystar.co.uk

Arsenal have eyed up Chelsea academy graduate Armando Broja as their replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was sold in the January transfer window.

Aubameyang was allowed to leave for Barcelona last month following a series of disciplinary woes.

And with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah out of contract at the end of the season, adding an attacker to Mikel Arteta's ranks has quickly become a priority.

Broja, currently out on loan at Southampton, has impressed since bursting onto the scene in the Premier League and has been tipped for a very bright future.

The Albania international has scored six goals in 20 appearances for the Saints, and his pace and power has really caught the eye of Arteta, according to football.london.

Broja had not made an appearance for Chelsea before being sent out on loan, though he has always been tipped to have a bright future while working his way up through the academy.

With Arteta building a squad with young talents that will improve and create a star-studded squad when those players continue to improve, it is no surprise that the 20-year-old is one of his top targets.

But Chelsea are expected to be incredibly reluctant to part ways with their academy graduate given that they are starting to look short of a different option in the final third.

Romelu Lukaku has struggled to set the league alight since his return from Inter Milan, and Timo Werner is continuing to look better utilised as a winger rather than through the middle.

Discussing Broja earlier this season, Thomas Tuchel said: "He's our player and he's doing good, but at the same time it's only half a season, so he needs to continue to improve and to make his statement at Southampton.

"We have a reason why they are our players, they have quality and mentality and now they are out there on their own in different environments and clubs and proving themselves.

"Armando's getting better and better, he's a very unique player with unique strengths in his game - he has speed, he's robust and he's a goalscorer."

Chelsea rejected a bid from Southampton last month for the no.9 which could be a sign of how highly the club rate Broja and thus how unlikely it is that the Stamford Bridge outfit will accept a bid from Arsenal for the star.