Transfer News: AC Milan one step closer to signing Chelsea star Olivier Giroud
According to Sky Sports Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio, as confirmed by reliable transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea ‘have reached an agreement’ with AC Milan for the transfer of star striker, Olivier Giroud, who is expected to fly to Italy next week.
The 34-year-old Frenchman impressed whenever he played under Frank Lampard and Thomas Tuchel last season. But at his age, it was unlikely that he would be the club’s long-term option up front.
And Romano reveals that I Rossoneri would pay €1million straight away with a further €1million in add-ons for the former Arsenal hitman, who would join them in a 2-year deal. It has proved to be a smart move by the Blues to extend his contract.
The Blues triggered a one-year extension for Giroud at Stamford Bridge earlier this year, as per The Athletic (Subscription Required). If this wasn’t done, Tuchel would have lost the Frenchman on a free transfer.
Giroud could be on his way out
But it now looks like he is all set to join the Italian giants. Giroud was clearly below Timo Werner in the pecking order for Chelsea, and the club is said to be in the market for a number 9.
According to football.london, the Blues have been linked with names like Romelu Lukaku and Erling Haaland in recent times. If they are to bring in any new striker, Giroud would have surely been out of favour then.
This seems like a good move for all parties, and the French international – if he does join Milan – would leave as a fan-favourite who gave them countless moments to rejoice.
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His showing against arch-rivals Arsenal in the 2019 Europa League final, a tournament where he scored an astounding 11 goals that season, and the goal against Atletico Madrid in last year’s Champions League knockout stages stand out as two performances that played a big role in two European trophies for the club.
