According to Sportsnet650 journalist Dan Riccio, Olivier Giroud has turned down a move to Vancouver Whitecaps in favour of a move to Miami, Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles or New York. The Frenchman was identified as a prime target for the Whitecaps, given his credentials as an experienced Premier League striker and a World Cup winner with France.
Giroud’s current spell at Chelsea
Giroud joined Chelsea at the start of last year for a fee of €17 million. He was brought in as an alternative for Alvaro Morata, who was struggling to find the back of the net consistently. The striker scored three goals in 13 matches playing for the Blues during the rest of the 2017/18 campaign.
The Frenchman struggled with lack of game-time in the Premier League under Maurizio Sarri the following campaign, mustering just 832 minutes of league football. But, he did enjoy an excellent spell in the UEFA Europa League, helping Chelsea win the coveted tournament by scoring an impressive 11 goals in 14 matches.
This season, however, Giroud hasn’t been able to impress new manager Frank Lampard. He and Michy Batshuayi have largely been overshadowed by the emergence of Tammy Abraham, who is already the league’s joint-top scorer.
Does Giroud have any future at Chelsea?
Chelsea clearly need to reshuffle their entire attacking department when their transfer ban gets lifted next summer. While Abraham has impressed, the Blues lack of the services of a reliable alternative. That means they are likely to sign a new centre-forward, which, in turn, will further minimise the overall gametime for Giroud.
The Frenchman, at the age of 33, is already in the final phase of his career. He is also prone to missing scoring opportunities while his overall athleticism is bound to deteriorate.
At the same time, however, his presence in the Chelsea team could provide Lampard with an extra dimension in the final third, thanks to his physical and aerial prowess. Moreover, the fact that the Blues cannot sign any new player until next summer means they simply cannot afford to sell Giroud in the upcoming January transfer window.
Therefore, the Premier League giants will have to run the risk of releasing him for free next summer, when his current contract comes to an end. As for Giroud, himself, a move to MLS will provide him with the opportunity of securing a lucrative contract right at the dying stages of his career.
