Chelsea forward Armando Broja is reportedly hopeful of returning from a serious knee injury in time for pre-season training.
Having made a positive impact during a loan spell with Southampton, then-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel kept Broja in his first-team squad for 2022-23.
Although Tuchel was soon sacked, his replacement Graham Potter consistently used the academy graduate with Chelsea requiring a greater physical presence in attack.
Before the World Cup, the Albania international made three starts and 15 substitute outings in all competitions, his solitary goal coming in a Premier League fixture versus Wolverhampton Wanderers in October.
However, the 21-year-old has been forced to miss out on the remainder of the campaign due to the injury that he sustained during a mid-season friendly with Aston Villa in December.
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As well as costing Chelsea a valuable option in the final third, it prevented Broja from establishing himself in the senior squad on the back of penning a six-year contract.
Since he initially suffered the injury, it has been claimed that a return to the fold at some point in the summer was the target of the player and medical staff.
According to the Evening Standard, Broja has already begun to take part in light training, currently putting him ahead of schedule.
The report states that the current plan is for Broja to be available for pre-season, when Chelsea will have a new head coach at the helm.
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That is highly likely to be Mauricio Pochettino, who is expected to be confirmed as the Blues boss from 2023-24 onwards within the next week.
While the Argentine will be provided with the freedom to make changes to his squad at a time when Chelsea must facilitate a wide array of departures, it is claimed that the Chelsea board do not want to sell Broja.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is expected to depart on a free transfer, while Chelsea are under pressure to find a solution for current Inter Milan loanee Romelu Lukaku.
Despite Chelsea being in the market for a new number nine, it appears that the current plan is for Broja to be handed a chance to stake a claim for a place in Pochettino's - or whoever becomes head coach - squad.
Darren Plant
