According to a recent report by the Daily Mail, Premier League high-flyers Chelsea are said to have convinced French striker Olivier Giroud to sign a one-year contract extension at Chelsea in the coming weeks. The report suggests that the decision comes on the back of a failed move away from the club in January, wherein the Blues didn’t sanction the sale owing to their inability to find an able replacement in time. It has been clarified that Lazio and Inter Milan are both keen on the former Arsenal man’s services.
Chelsea are said to be looking to extend the Frenchman’s contract primarily because they don’t want to let him leave for free in the summer. If the contract gets signed, the Blues are sure to get a fee for the striker’s services. Although this is the case, it hasn’t stopped the Blues from looking for alternate striking options, with the situation of Dries Mertens at Napoli also being monitored. The Belgian speedster is yet to extend his contract at Naples, which expires at the end of June.
How Did Olivier Giroud Contribute To Chelsea This Season?
When Frank Lampard first took over at the start of the campaign, the Frenchman probably thought that his days in a Chelsea shirt were drawing to a close. Fortunately for him, circumstances caused the gaffer to recall Giroud into the side during the second half of the season. Tammy Abraham, who started the campaign as first-choice, picked up a hip injury which is what caused Chelsea’s problems in front of goal to begin.
While they did have another option in Michy Batshuayi, the Belgian’s alarming lack of conviction in the final third was always going to be an issue. Having been given a couple of chances, Lampard was quick to drop the former Valencia man, and he instead brought Giroud into the side. The ex Montpellier forward seemed to offer the manager exactly what he needed – a reliable striker’s presence up-front, to bring the best out of all the quality young players around him.
Having been brought into the team in the second part of the season, long after the January transfer drama, Giroud began to showcase exactly why Chelsea signed him in the first place. The Frenchman held the ball up effectively and ensured that his first-touches always helped an onrushing teammate.
The former Arsenal man’s heading ability in the box needn’t be questioned, as can be seen from some of the goals he’s scored for Chelsea and Arsenal over the years. The Frenchman’s nine league outings resulted in just two goals this season, but as was seen in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Giroud doesn’t need to score goals to have an impact on the side.
Why Chelsea Should Keep Giroud For Another Year?
This Chelsea side is filled from top to bottom with youngsters, and going into a Premier League campaign with a lack of experience in the team can be the biggest mistake a manager ever makes. With the futures of players like Willian and Pedro up in the air, it would be smart on the Blues’ part to hold onto Giroud a little longer.
While the addition of a new striker could push the Frenchman to the bottom of the pile, there’s no denying that he’s an obvious upgrade on Batshuayi, and Lampard will hence do well to keep him at the club beyond the summer.
