Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has admitted that French striker Olivier Giroud could leave Stamford Bridge this month if the striker wants a move away and it works for the club.
Giroud will be out of contract next summer and will enter the final six months of his deal in January. This implies that the French striker will be free to discuss with other clubs about potentially joining on a free transfer. The 33-year-old has been linked to a number of European clubs such as Inter Milan, Crystal Palace, Newcastle, and Aston Villa, who are keen on signing the France striker on loan during the January transfer window.
The striker is desperate to seek out first-team football ahead of France’s Euro 2020 campaign after been warned by France coach Didier Deschamp that he might lose his spot if he continues to sit on the bench at Chelsea. This has made Giroud expressed his desire to leave Stamford Bridge in January.
The Mirror had reported that Crystal Palace may make a move to keep the striker in the Premier League due to his League experience with Arsenal and Chelsea. The Eagles are favourites to land the 33-year-old as Chelsea are reportedly interested in bringing Wilfried Zaha from Selhurst Park to Stamford Bridge next month.
Atletico Madrid are also hoping to replace Spanish striker Diego Costa with Giroud in the January transfer window. According to Atleti, Costa is out of action until February due to injury, and Inter are keen to provide some backup to their lethal partnership of Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez.
Chelsea manager Lampard had said that he is not planning to discuss the Giroud’s future or any other players until the transfer window opens in January. The Chelsea boss said he has not discussed with Giroud about his future.
However, Giroud was an unused sub as Chelsea defeat Nottingham Forest 2-0 in the FA Cup third round on Sunday and after the game, Lampard said that the striker could leave the club if they receive a suitable offer.
Lampard said: ‘My answer remains the same as it has done recently and I have spoken with him.
‘If the conditions are that it’s something Oli really wants to do and it works for the club and it works for me and the squad, then it’s something that could happen.
‘But only when all three of those bases are covered. So we’re still there.
