Nottingham Forest-linked 21-year-old suffers devastating blow, Reds wanted him on loan

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Chelsea star Armando Broja was linked with a move to Nottingham Forest during the summer transfer window. He was one of the first players to be linked with a move to the City Ground after the club won promotion through the play-offs at Wembley.

Now, he’s suffered a devastating injury blow. During a mid-season friendly against Aston Villa in Dubai, Broja was forced from the field on a stretcher after dropping to the floor and clutching his knee.

Earlier today, some news broke about the youngster and it’s not positive. The 21-year-old has been ruled out for the remainder of 2022/23 and will require surgery on a ruptured ACL in his right knee.

It’s hoped that the Albania international will be back for pre-season training ahead of the next campaign. Still, the injury is a cruel blow for a player who had just started to receive some game time under Graham Potter.

Broja was courted by a number of clubs during the summer transfer window. Forest were one of them as Chelsea considered loaning out one of their most talented young players.

Last season, the youngster went on loan to Southampton. He did well for the Saints and found the net nine times for the club and also registered one assist.

Broja linked with Forest but a deal was never close

The Reds were in the mix to sign the youngster but Chelsea ultimately decided not to let him leave Stamford Bridge for the current campaign.

First-team football was hard to come by under Thomas Tuchel. However, Potter’s appointment had given him a new lease of life at the club.

His injury coming at this stage indicates that the law of sod is alive and well! It’s a devastating blow for the player and he will hope his rehabilitation goes positively.

It’s easy to say that Forest perhaps missed a trick by not signing Broja. Clearly, the club felt he was still a little bit raw to make an impact with a newly promoted side during 2022/23.

His injury comes at an awful time for the player. Had Forest maintained any interest whatsoever in the youngster, they will now be forced to look elsewhere for a new talisman.