Chelsea are reportedly planning to make a shock offer for Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud this January, according to Spanish newspaper Don Balon.
The France international was close to moving away from the Emirates last summer due to lack of opportunities in the starting eleven, but manager Arsene Wenger decided to keep the 31-year-old to maintain a better competition for the number nine spot this term.
Following Alexander Lacazette’s impressive start to the campaign, Giroud is still finding himself from the bench, with English striker Danny Welbeck also ahead of him in Wenger’s pecking order. Giroud has made eight appearances in the league this season, but is yet to start a single one of those games.
Now the papers are linking Giroud to a move across London as Antonio Conte is reportedly hoping to bolster his attack with a new striker once the transfer window slams open in January. The Italian currently has just two recognised strikers in his side – Alvaro Morata and Michy Bathsuayi – and will need to make new reinforcements should the Spaniard’s injuries strike more often, or the Belgian’s form keep dipping.
It would be a very unexpected move from Chelsea, and many would certainly hope for a player above Giroud’s ability and below his age. But considering that Conte was hopeful of landing 32-year-old Fernando Llorente from Swansea last summer, anything could happen!
