With these five stars, Chelsea might be able to finalize a trade for Alexander Isak.
According to reports, Chelsea has contacted Newcastle about a possible blockbuster trade of Alexander Isak. The Swede would cost the Blues a British record £120 million, making him more expensive than Moises Caicedo, another Blues hero. However, it is improbable that the Blues will pay this amount.
Chelsea, which is eager to keep spending to a minimum due to concerns about profit and sustainability laws (PSR), may see a swap deal as a way to lower Isak’s asking price and simultaneously remove a few players from their payroll. Express Sport examines five players that Chelsea would consider offering in exchange for Isak, who the Daily Mail claims the west Londoners are interested in.
Armando Broja
The Chelsea team’s best like-for-like substitute is the forward Armando Broja, an Albanian. Given that Enzo Maresca is rumored to be looking for forward reinforcements, the Blues academy graduate is probably going to be looking for a new place to call home over the summer.
Broja enjoyed a prolific loan spell at Southampton in 2021-22 but his career has failed to take off since then. He suffered a horrific knee injury in December 2022 and struggled at Fulham in the second half of last season.
Still only 22, Broja could find excel on Tyneside.
Conor Gallagher
Newcastle have previously been linked with Conor Gallagher. In a PSR-driven world where clubs need to limit their losses, a blockbuster swap deal involving Broja and Gallagher is surely not beyond the realms of possibility.
Chelsea would likely want to wait to receive a huge offer for Gallagher, pricing him at £50m. The 24-year-old is an academy graduate for whom any fee would represent pure profit. However, a swap deal would be beneficial for all parties.
Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling finds himself at a crossroads at Stamford Bridge. The potential arrival of a new forward would place him even further down Maresca’s pecking order. The seasoned England veteran has struggled for form since joining Chelsea in 2022.
A move to Newcastle would allow the 29-year-old to kickstart his career.
Noni Madueke
Miguel Almiron has been linked with a departure from Newcastle, leaving them short of right-wing options. Madueke would be the perfect partner in crime to former England U21 team-mate Anthony Gordon at St. James’ Park.
The 22-year-old shone in the last few months of last season, finding form just as Mauricio Pochettino’s methods seemed to finally click. He scored eight Premier League goals last term.
Romeo Lavia
It is unlikely that Chelsea would give the green light to a permanent exit for Lavia just 12 months after spending £45m on the former Southampton and Manchester City midfielder. But a loan spell at Newcastle, who are reported to be looking for midfielders, could be beneficial for his development.
Lavia, 20, spent most of last season out injured and might find regular game time hard to come by at Chelsea this season. That would not be an issue at Newcastle, where he could thrive under Eddie Howe.
