According to a recent report by the Sun, Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has decided to extend his stay at the West London club for “at least” another year which could help them cope with their impending two-transfer window ban (handed by FIFA) from acquiring new players.
The same source has revealed that the French forward had wanted to keep his options open during the summer transfer period, but the Pensioners has managed to convince the player to commit another season at Stamford Bridge.
Giroud’s Frustrations At Chelsea This Season
The former Arsenal frontman has been a sporadic presence in Maurizio Sarri’s squad as he had to be content with earning limited game time when Alvaro Morata had been Sarri’s first-choice forward in the first half of this campaign. However, since Morata’s departure back in January, Giroud has managed to stake his claim in Sarri’s senior team even though Gonzalo Higuain’s loan arrival had initially raised some fears that the French international would be shipped out of the club at the end of this campaign.
The French Striker’s Record For The Pensioners This Season
The 32-year-old has featured in 44 matches for Chelsea this term, scoring 12 goals while creating eight assists in all competitions. Even though Giroud has occasionally been subjected to appearances from the bench, he deserves full credit for not giving up and trying his best to prove his worth in the opposition half.
Giroud was also an important member of Didier Deschamps’ France national team that lifted the 2018 FIFA World Cup trophy in Russia last summer. At 32, he still has a few good years left in his tank to deliver at the highest level, so the West London giants have done well to secure his services for the upcoming campaign.
Retaining Giroud: Clever Move By Sarri?
The French striker can hold the ball up well and get his teammates involved in the final third. He is also a lethal presence in the opposition box who can contribute by scoring goals or setting up his teammates. Hence, he would be a fantastic option to lead the line for the Pensioners next season.
Higuain has not shown enough on the pitch to merit a permanent move to Stamford Bridge. Even the returning loanees like Michy Batshuayi and Tammy Abraham are not good enough to secure a regular starting berth under Sarri and so Giroud could be a great option for them to lead the line up top next term.
