Everton dealt transfer blow as Chelsea deal agreed - sources
Everton have been dealt another blow in the transfer market after Ipswich agreed a deal to sign Armando Broja, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O'Rourke revealed that Everton had been exploring a deal for the Chelsea striker before Ipswich moved quickly to land a deal.
Broja, 22, emerged near the top of the Toffee's list of striker options - although the potential future fee remained a stumbling block.
Football Insider revealed on 11 August that Everton were waiting to see whether Broja's value would drop later in the window and were considering a loan move.
However, he now looks set to join Ipswich on loan for the coming season, with a potential option to buy at the end of his spell.
This is the third time this summer Sean Dyche's side have been beaten to a deal by the newly promoted outfit following attempts to sign Kalvin Phillips and Jens Cajuste.
Everton to miss out on Armando Broja signing after Ipswich Town transfer news
Signing a new striker emerged as one of the priority transfer moves for Everton this summer after their struggles in front of goals last time out.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto scored a combined 14 goals in 77 games last season, leading to calls for a more clinical striker to arrive at Goodison Park.
Dyche's men scored just 40 goals in 38 Premier League games in 2023-24, ranking as the second-lowest scoring team behind rock-bottom Sheffield United.
As a result, the likes of Broja and Eddie Nketiah had been considered by the recruitment team, but both now look set for moves elsewhere.
The Chelsea forward has scored just three goals in 38 appearances for the Blues, although with limited minutes, and struggled during a half-season loan at Fulham last year.
He struggled to displace Rodrigo Muniz in Marco Silva's side, making just eight appearances and failing to find the net in that time.
Ipswich, meanwhile, are continuing their ambitious summer spending after securing deals to sign the likes of Omari Hutchinson, Sammie Szmodics and Jacob Greaves.
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