In a recent tweet, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed that Chelsea centre-forward Olivier Giroud is set to join AC Milan this summer. It is understood that the French striker will put pen to paper on a contract until 2023 after both the Blues and Milan reached an agreement for his transfer during this summer transfer window.
AC Milan have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign Olivier Giroud, here-we-go soon! €1m as guaranteed fee, €1m as add on. Giroud will sign until June 2023 once all details will be fixed. 🇫🇷 #ACMilan
Giroud is expected to fly to Milano next week. #CFC @DiMarzio
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 8, 2021
Giroud’s Sporadic Role At Stamford Bridge Last Season
Giroud played a bit-part role for the West London club last season but still managed to produce a few influential displays as the focal point of their attack. The France international made 31 appearances for the Blues in the previous campaign, netting 11 goals in the process across all fronts.
Most of the 34-year-old’s playing time came off the bench which explains why he only averaged 1.7 shots, 0.4 key passes and 0.1 dribbles per game in the 2020-21 Premier League season. He was also a bit untidy with his ball distribution as evidenced by his pass success rate of 70.3% in the English top-flight (stats via whoscored).
At 34, Giroud is way past his prime, so it makes sense for the Frenchman to look for a fresh challenge by sealing a move to AC Milan in this off-season. San Siro could be an ideal destination for the player as he will have a far better chance of securing regular first-team football in the coming seasons.
Giroud Set To Sign For AC Milan: Good Move For Everyone Involved?
Despite turning 34 last September, Giroud did well to chip in with some important goals for Chelsea during the last Premier League campaign. He deserves a lot of credit for netting six goals for the Blues in Europe which helped them secure the UEFA Champions League trophy earlier this year.
The Frenchman can still play a vital role at the highest level, so he will fancy his chances of success at Milan. It is only fair to the player if Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel cuts him loose this summer so that he can make room for a new striker in his squad. Both Timo Werner and Kai Havertz have struggled to be consistent in terms of their goal-scoring so far while Tammy Abraham failed to make an impact at Stamford Bridge in the second half of last season.
Hence, the Blues head coach needs to freshen up his attacking options if he wants his players to challenge in both domestic and European competitions next season. Hence, Romano’s recent update (if accurate) would be a good move for Giroud and even, the West London club as they both look to move on in search of greener pastures over the next few years.
