NEWCASTLE UNITED transfer target Armando Broja is jetting back from the United States to resolve his future – but West Ham United are now strong favourites to land the Albania international on a season-long loan.

Broja has spent the last week in the US with Chelsea’s first-team squad, but was not involved as Thomas Tuchel’s side beat Mexican outfit Club America in a friendly at the weekend.

Tuchel has decided the striker does not form part of his plans for next season, and he has therefore given him permission to leave Chelsea’s training base and return to England.

In theory, that should be good news for Newcastle, with the Magpies having made a number of inquiries about Broja’s potential availability already this summer.

Eddie Howe is keen to sign Broja on a season-long loan, with a view to a permanent transfer next summer, having switched attacking targets once it became clear Hugo Ekitike would be heading to Paris St Germain rather than moving to Tyneside.

However, while the Chelsea hierarchy and Broja’s representatives are aware of Newcastle’s interest, sources in London claim West Ham boss David Moyes is extremely confident of tying up a loan deal of his own.

Like Newcastle, the Hammers have maintained a constant dialogue with Chelsea officials all summer, and while their initial preference was for a loan deal, talks have progressed to the stage where West Ham are now understood to be discussing a potential £30m permanent transfer.

Everton are also interested, but the Toffees are not believed to be willing to match the bid West Ham have put on the table. Newcastle would potentially be interested in a permanent transfer at a level somewhere close to the figures currently being discussed, but Broja’s strong preference at this stage is for a move to the London Stadium.

West Ham can offer European football after qualifying for the Europa Conference League, and a move to the Hammers would also mean Broja does not have to uproot from his current base in the capital.

West Ham do not really have an attacking alternative to Michail Antonio at the moment, and having proven himself with Southampton last season, Broja will back himself to be able to force his way into Moyes’ first-choice side.

Assuming Broja does complete a move to West Ham later this week, his decision will represent another blow to Newcastle’s recruitment team, who are struggling to sign attacking reinforcements.

Proposed deals for Moussa Diaby and Alexander Isak have been called off because they were deemed to be too expensive, while Leeds’ £35m asking price is likely to scupper a deal for Jack Harrison.

Speaking from Newcastle’s Austrian training camp over the weekend, Howe admitted it was proving difficult to recruit attackers.

As a result, it looks increasingly likely that the Magpies will start the season with Callum Wilson and Chris Wood as their only centre-forward options – Dwight Gayle has not been part of the first-team squad in Austria and is set to leave in the next few days – which is an obvious concern given the former’s chequered injury record.

Wilson only returned for the final three matches of last season after injuring his calf and Achilles in December, and the 30-year-old has been working to a specially-adapted training schedule in Austria.

Nevertheless, Howe is confident his number nine can shoulder the burden of spearheading Newcastle’s attack next term.

“No one has ever doubted Callum’s ability,” said Howe, whose side take on German club Mainz in the final game of their Austrian tour this afternoon. “He is an outstanding striker, and he showed that coming back from a long injury and performing well at the end of the season. I would love him to have an injury-free campaign.

“We are looking for (15 to 20 goals) from our number nine, for sure – whether that’s Callum on his own or with Chris Wood. We need those goals from our front players. We believe they are capable of delivering those numbers.”