NEWCASTLE United have reportedly entered the race for Saints loanee Armando Broja.

Italian media outlet TuttoMercato are reporting Eddie Howe’s men have tabled a bid of 40million Euros for the Albania international.

Meanwhile, TeamTALK also report Leeds United, Everton and Wolves have also joined the race for the Slough-born striker, who is on loan at St Mary’s from Stamford Bridge.

Broja joined Saints on a deal until the end of this season. He has scored 10 goals in 25 appearances for club and country.

Asked last week if he is hopeful of concluding a permanent deal for Broja, Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: "To be honest, it doesn’t affect me massively because I know that he is here until the end of the season.

"We have enough time to talk to them (Chelsea), to talk about our future with him.

“Let this guy play football. Let this guy do his job.

“I think it’s very important for the young players that they can develop their game in a sort of calmness – not in these hectic rumours that are around.

“It doesn’t help any young player, especially not him.

“This is what we try to do, we try to calm everything down because he should concentrate on his job and this is what he is here for.”

Asked whether he got the indication the striker would like to stay at Saints, Hasenhuttl added: “I think he definitely enjoys it here and he should see what he has with this club here. I think he sees this because we gave him a big chance to show up.

“We don’t need for somebody to say thank you for this. He only should do his job and should help us as long as we have the deal.

“The deal is we give you a platform, you give everything you have for this club. This is the deal we have with everybody and then we are a more successful club and he does his good job.”