Former Southampton forward Armando Broja has shaken off his Chelsea loanee status which can be the biggest turning point to bring his ailing career back on track.
Southampton fans saw Armando Broja getting his Stamford Bridge return ticket in May, a thing he has become quite used to. The centre forward has represented four different Premier League teams but St. Mary's was the only place where he looked the goal-getter he's billed to be before every such loan stint.
For an under-25 player who holds an academy image at Chelsea, Broja knows his name won't stop bouncing around in the transfer market. However, three back-to-back poor seasons in the top-flight needs fixing.
Goals fuel patience and backing, and the Albanian can't just keep his score-sheet empty and expect teams to keep believing in him. Especially, not when the 23-year-old comes in the mould of a number nine.
Broja may rediscover Saints purple patch by avoiding loan moves
Perhaps, that explains why Broja is tying up his boots for the biggest challenge he has encountered so far. Leaving the Chelsea cushion behind, which will hold him more accountable to his performances rather than continue requesting his parent club to facilitate Premier League loan handouts.
In his own words, Fabrizio Romano mentioned where Broja will be playing, saying: "It's over between Armando Broja and Chelsea: understand the transfer to Burnley will be permanent."
Further, Saints will find it brave to see him jostling for Premier League survival while taking on first choice Zian Flemming for the striker's role. Four years ago, Broja had to rival a blockbuster Championship finisher, Adam Armstrong, to compensate for Danny Ings' regular strikes.
And although the former couldn't be the Saints golden boot, he produced the best scoring numbers in the front three.
At Burnley, the minimum ask for Broja should be to bag on ten occasions, which often secures the topscorer's claim in a bottom-five or even a just below mid-table side. The first game for him will be against Tottenham, let's see if he hits the ground running.