Everton came close to signing Chelsea striker Armando Broja earlier this summer, claims journalist Simon Phillips.

The 20-year-old has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, but it now looks like he will be remaining at Stamford Bridge.

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What is the latest news involving Broja?

According to football.london, Broja has been reassured by manager Thomas Tuchel that he will get opportunities at Chelsea this season.

The likes of Everton, West Ham and Newcastle United have all been linked with him; however, it appears that Tuchel is keen to keep hold of the Albanian.

Should that change, though, potential suitors could be looking at £50m to snap Broja up in this transfer window.

Back in June, a report from The Telegraph suggested that Chelsea value Broja at £30m but, since then, football website 90min has claimed he could actually cost £50m.

What has Phillips said about Broja and Everton?

Phillips has told GIVEMESPORT that Broja actually came close to joining Everton earlier in the summer but things quickly changed.

Speaking about the Albania international, the journalist said: "It's changed, the situation in the last couple of weeks. He was very close to joining Everton, but that's kind of died a death now and that suggests to me that Tuchel's said to him, 'Look, you're going to stay. We need you here at the moment.'

"But it is a situation that could change again in the last few weeks of the window depending on who Chelsea sign."

Who could Everton sign instead of Broja?

Broja's Chelsea team-mate Michy Batshuayi is another striker who Everton are thought to be interested in.

At the end of last month, 90min reported that the Toffees had been in talks to sign the Belgian, who has not been assigned a shirt number at Stamford Bridge.

Batshuayi is a player who Everton boss Frank Lampard knows well, managing him at Chelsea back in the 2019/20 season, and Phillips has previously told GMS that the 44-year-old wants him at Goodison Park.

With Dominic Calvert-Lewin out injured - a similar theme to last season - it is imperative that Everton do bring in a new centre-forward before the transfer window closes. If not, then the Merseyside club could easily find themselves in another relegation battle.

Broja, for the time being, seems to be off the table, though. Who Lampard ends up with, with Batshuayi still possibly an option, will be interesting to see.