According to a recent report by Fabrizio Romano of The Guardian, Premier League giants Chelsea are said to have rejected a £3.4m bid from Inter Milan for the services of their French World Cup winning striker Olivier Giroud and are said to be holding out for the initial asking price of £8.5m.
The Blues are claimed to believe that the Frenchman is worth the price that they have quoted, especially considering that he’s still a vital part of Didier Deschamps’ French national team picture.
Even though the veteran striker’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season, the Blues seem reluctant to sell their man for any cheaper than the asking price. The report claims that the former Arsenal striker has become Antonio Conte’s primary winter target at Inter Milan, especially considering the situation they’re currently going through. With Alexis Sanchez out of action indefinitely, the former Chelsea manager has become desperate to add attacking reinforcements, and still believes that he can work out a deal with the Blues for the striker’s signature.
Why The Blues Should Eventually Cash In On Giroud?
Since the managerial takeover by Frank Lampard at the start of the season, Olivier Giroud’s decline as a Premier League footballer has been apparent to see. He’s currently the third choice striker at Stamford Bridge, behind younger and more dynamic options in Michy Batshuayi and Tammy Abraham. Also, whenever the Frenchman has taken to the pitch this season, he’s failed to provide anything meaningful in an attacking sense.
Chelsea are a club that are obviously headed in the opposite direction to Olivier Giroud, and with the work-rate and enthusiasm levels within the team increasing every week, the Frenchman just doesn’t have the pace or energy to perform at the highest level. Cashing in on Giroud is something that Chelsea must get done this season, especially if they hope to challenge for trophies at the end of the term.
Why Chelsea Must Hold Out Till They Get The Asking Price?
Olivier Giroud is still a World Cup winner and needs no introductions to anyone even remotely linked with Premier League or French football. The 33-year-old has left a long-lasting legacy in the Premier League, and both London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea will surely vouch for the striker’s abilities. The former Montpellier man tends to be a deadly finisher in the box, and he’s scored some memorable goals along the way as well.
That scorpion kick he scored for Arsenal will forever live in the memory of Premier League fans. At the same time, his goals against the Gunners at the Europa League final last season proved invaluable to Chelsea as well. Despite his age, the striker still has a lot of attacking qualities that could really shine through in a less physical league like the Serie A. The Frenchman is one of the best headers of the ball in world football even now, and it’s no surprise that Conte has recognised him as a potential option.
