According to a recent report by French news outlet SoccerLink, Ligue 1 side Lyon are said to be keen on signing French international striker Olivier Giroud in the winter window, as they look to find cover for the inevitable departure of their star striker Moussa Dembele. The report suggests that the Lyon striker will be sold if a club-record fee can be agreed and that they have identified Chelsea outcast Giroud as a potential short-term replacement.
It has been claimed that Didier Deschamps expressed his desire for Giroud to get more playing time, especially considering that the veteran striker is in the manager’s plans for Euro 2020. Although he has been a vital part of France’s qualification campaign, his playing time with Chelsea has been extremely limited so far, leaving him with very few options other than a move away.
What Would Olivier Giroud Add To The Lyon Team?
There is no denying the fact that on his day, the Frenchman can be a real nuisance to defend against. Despite being reasonably bulky in size, the striker shows a decent turn of pace and has the strength to outmuscle any defender in world football. His heading ability is the stuff of legend, and although goals at club level have been hard to come by recently, he still holds massive amounts of potential to influence a game.
Quite possibly the deadliest header of the ball in the entire Premier League, the striker is more than capable of finishing with his feet as well. Despite being a big physical presence in the opposition box, he can be deceptively quick with his reactions. The 33-year-old would also act as an extra defender while dealing with set-pieces, as he’s effectively guaranteed to win the first header.
What Has Led To Olivier Giroud’s Downfall At Chelsea?
Although the French World Cup winner wasn’t the first choice striker even last season, the fact that he finished as the top scorer in the Europa League, en route the title itself, further clarifies his attacking prowess. With that said though, the presence of Gonzalo Higuain in the Chelsea ranks was a massive blow to the Frenchman’s chances of getting first-team football.
Maurizio Sarri personally brought Higuain to Stamford Bridge, in an attempt to open the goalscoring floodgates at Chelsea. Although he wasn’t a massive hit in West London, he still managed to keep Giroud out of the starting line-ups for significant periods, which is what eventually led to his downfall. Now, with Tammy Abraham being branded the ‘first-choice’ at Cobham, it does seem unlikely that he’ll be given too many opportunities.
Should The Blues Sell Olivier Giroud In The Summer?
The veteran striker is already 33 now and is nearing the final years of his long and illustrious career. His contributions to the Blues have been stagnating over the course of the year, and although he scored in their Europa League final triumph, he has since, found the going extremely hard. Having made just four substitute appearances in the league so far this season, the likelihood of him leaving is now quite high. With Michy Batshuayi available as a backup to Abraham as well, the Blues do not need to keep Giroud in the squad, and would hence be best off, cashing in.
