Southampton: Hasenhuttl could now lose £34m star at St Mary's | OneFootball

Southampton need to start planning for life without Armando Broja, says journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The 20-year-old, who has spent this season on loan at St Mary’s, is set to return to parent club Chelsea.

What is the latest news involving Broja?

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Broja will return for pre-season, where he will take a look at the £34m-rated striker.

“They [Broja and Conor Gallagher] will come back for sure,” the German was quoted as saying by the Daily Echo.

“I want to have them in pre-season and we will decide in pre-season what goes on. It is heavily up to them and how they do.”

Earlier, Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted that he wanted to keep Broja at St Mary’s; however, things have become complicated due to Chelsea’s takeover situation.

“At this moment it is not easy to negotiate with Chelsea. There is no question, and it is not surprising that I want him to stay here another year. I know this would be good for him,” the Southampton boss said.

What has O’Rourke said about Broja and Southampton?

With there being no guarantees that Broja will return to Southampton next season, O’Rourke thinks the Saints need to start looking at a couple of other strikers who they can bring in.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, the journalist said: “With Armando Broja set to return to Chelsea in the summer, and we’re not certain where his future lies, Southampton, right now, need to be planning ahead and have contingency plans in place because a striker, maybe one or two, might be needed at the club this summer.”

How many strikers do Southampton need to sign?

If they cannot keep hold of Broja for another year, as O’Rourke has said, Southampton may need to bring in at least two new forwards in the upcoming transfer window.

Often using a 4-4-2 formation this season, Hasenhuttl obviously needs options up front, especially with one of his current No.9s not in the best of form.

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Adam Armstrong, who arrived at St Mary’s from Blackburn Rovers last summer, has only scored two goals in the current campaign.

This has, of course, been the 25-year-old’s first season as a Southampton player. He may just need more time to adapt.

Whatever the case, the uncertainty surrounding Broja’s future has provided Hasenhuttl with quite a conundrum, and it will be interesting to see what he does if he cannot bring the Albania international back to the south coast.