Scouting Report: Would Armando Broja be a good signing?
By Alex Smith
West Ham are one of a numerous sides interested in Chelsea striker Armando Broja.
The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at Southampton but his future is now uncertain with the Blues reportedly ready to except a bid of £25million for him.
The Hammers are in desperate need for a striker this summer to share the burden with Michail Antonio, but would Broja be a good signing?
Scouting Report: West Ham transfer target Armando Broja, would he be a good fit for the Hammers?
Before analysing what striker West Ham should sign it is important to understand what manager David Moyes requires from his centre-forwards. The reason why he rejected the chance to sign an out-and-out No.9 in the last few transfer windows is because Moyes only wants players with a specific skill set and will only sign players he is 100% sure on. If he isn’t, he will be content with a small squad, as shown last season.
Therefore the attributes a striker has is incredibly important. Antonio may lack that typical striker’s instinct and miss the occasional big chance that top strikers would score but he is about far more than finishing.
His work rate is exceptional, his hold play is fantastic and he brings others into play like few others. His combination of pace and power is frightening when he’s on his game and his ability to create chances for others has significantly improved, he scored 13 last season and registered a further 11 assists. West Ham’s big strength is the counter attack and Antonio is perfect for this.
So is Broja good enough to fill Antonio’s boots?
To start with he is 12 years younger. Antonio is 32-years-old and may start to decline soon while Broja has his best years ahead of him.
The positives that Broja would bring to West Ham is firstly his speed and strength. He is extremely quick and very tough to knock off the ball. Southampton like to attack quickly and Broja was excellent in sprinting up the pitch with and without the ball. He is in the best 69th percentile for progressive carries for strikers. Essentially, he is very good at dribbling with the ball bringing his team up the pitch. He ranks in the best 81st percentile for best dribblers.
With West Ham’s already great counter attacking talent, he could be a real threat on the break, much like Jarrod Bowen is when he dribbles the ball forward.
Broja netted nine goals for the Saints last season (six in the Premier League) that may not seem the best return but his finishing is excellent. He has a powerful shot that he likes to drill into the corners but he is also capable of smart finishes (like chips) and showing composure in front of goal. If he is given more chances his goal tally would no doubt go up.