According to a recent report by the Daily Express, Chelsea are said to have set a £5m asking price for French international striker Olivier Giroud. Despite being the first choice with the national side, the Premier League veteran has found it nearly impossible to break into Frank Lampard’s youthful Chelsea system. It has been suggested that the Blues are willing to sell in January if the right offer is made.
It is also being claimed that the likes of Nice, Bordeaux, Marseille and Lyon are all keen on bringing him back to the Ligue 1, having kept tabs on him all through the current campaign. He has also been the subject of interest from Serie A outfit Inter Milan, where former Blues boss Antonio Conte is said to be keen on a reunion. There is also a notable interest from the MLS, with the Vancouver Whitecaps looking to add to their attacking arsenal.
What Was Olivier Giroud Achieved At Chelsea?
The French veteran was first introduced to the Premier League when he was signed by London rivals Arsenal in the summer of 2012. After a somewhat prolific six years at Arsenal, he decided to make the move across London, in an attempt to get more gametime/win more trophies (which interpretation of why Giroud decided to move probably depends on which of the London club you support).
To say that he got what we was looking for would be an understatement. The former Arsenal star scored five goals for the Blues in his first half-season, but it was in his second year that he really got going.
After a slow start to his Blues career, Maurizio Sarri’s careful use of his abilities worked like a charm in the Europa League. Ironically, the Blues were to play his former club Arsenal in the final. The veteran striker opened the scoring for the Blues, on their way to a remarkable victory, for him as a player, and collectively as a team. He even finished as the competition’s top scorer, with 11 goals.
Does He Have A Future At Chelsea?
The Frenchman from Chambéry hasn’t had a very good season in terms of first-team opportunities under Frank Lampard. The gaffer has preferred to use Tammy Abraham as his first-choice striker, while Michy Batshuayi has been an able sidekick so far. The World Cup winner has only started one league game for the Blues all campaign and has only featured in the competition on four occasions.
Although how he’s been cut out from the team might seem unfair, it’s only logical to think that he might not fit into Frank Lampard’s system at Chelsea. The Englishman’s project is clearly based around fluidity and sharp movement in the final third – neither of which is Giroud’s strong points. While he does offer some amount of hold-up play, Tammy’s ability to work the ball on the turn and beat a man suits the setup a lot better.
Is This The Right Time To Cash In On Olivier Giroud?
When the Blues signed him a couple of years ago, they were in a pretty bad state, and in terrible need of attacking reinforcements. Despite his arrival, things didn’t change all through last season. But the mood around Chelsea is very different now; to the point where it could be called Lampard’s ‘youth revolution’.
The presence of players like Willian and Azpilicueta add a degree of leadership – another quality that Giroud doesn’t necessarily signify. With all the positivity surrounding Stamford Bridge at the moment, letting the striker leave as a Chelsea legend seems like the best option for the Blues at this point.
