Olivier Giroud
According to 90min.com (h/t Daily Star), Olivier Giroud’s agent, Michael Manuello, has offered the player to Tottenham Hotspur after talks between Chelsea and Inter Milan fell through.
Olivier Giroud, 33, has found himself with a bit-part role for Chelsea this season, managing only seven appearances across all competitions under Frank Lampard. The French striker has made two Premier League starts this season, while he has only featured three times from the bench in the top flight.
The 33-year-old only has six months left on his current Stamford Bridge deal. However, the report (h/t Daily Star) adds that Chelsea are reluctant to do business with Tottenham because they are direct rivals in the top-four race.
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho should bolster his attacking options following the long-term injury to striker Harry Kane. The England international underwent surgery on a ruptured tendon in his left hamstring earlier this month.
With last season’s back-up striker Fernando Llorente released before the start of the season, Jose Mourinho does not have a like-for-like replacement for Kane in his squad. Troy Parrott, 17, is the only other out-and-out striker at Spurs and he is far too young to be relied upon to shoulder the responsibility of leading the attack regularly.
The likes of Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min can also play in the No.9 role but they are more effective down the flanks, as witnessed over the last few seasons at the club. Thus, after signing Gedson Fernandes on an 18-month loan from Benfica, Spurs must make a move for Olivier Giroud.
Giroud has scored just nine league goals since the start of the 2017/18 season, which is mainly down to his lack of game time over the last two years. The Frenchman, nevertheless, has proven to be a top striker in the Premier League, with 78 goals and 28 assists to his name in 225 PL appearances.
He has a wealth of Premier League experience and has a proven pedigree internationally, having scored 39 goals in 97 appearances for France. He also won the 2018 World Cup.
With Kane injured at the moment, Tottenham need an established striker but time is running out. Mourinho should attempt to sign Giroud, who needs playing time until the end of the season to get himself a place at the Euro 2020.
