Marseille have shortlisted Olivier Giroud as a target for the summer and are lining up a move for the Arsenal striker, as per reports.
According to an exclusive by Goal, Marseille have made attacking reinforcements their top priority for the summer, and are eyeing several strikers around Europe. Olivier Giroud is one of the names on their shortlist and Marseille are keen to sign the Arsenal striker before the start of next season.
The Arsenal journey has truly been a roller coaster for Olivier Giroud. His scoring rate makes for impressive reading, scoring a goal for Arsenal after every 151 minutes, but he has never really been a consistent figure that every top club wants their striker to be.
The 2015/16 season was his most productive for Arsenal, as he finished the campaign as the club’s top scorer, with 24 goals. But, the Frenchman couldn’t follow that up with more success this season, as he lost his place in the starting lineup to Alexis Sanchez, who has been favoured by Arsene Wenger to lead the Arsenal attack.
His numbers still make for good reading though, as Giroud has bagged 11 goals and 5 assists. And having started just eight games all season, these stats surely are impressive, with the France international scoring a goal every 92 minutes.
However, despite his struggles to break into the Arsenal first time regularly this season, Giroud extended his stay at the Emirates Stadium by signing a new long-term contract with the North London club last month.
But, no top player likes to play second fiddle, and Giroud is no different. And it has now emerged that Marseille are ready to offer the 30-year-old Frenchman a regular berth as the focal point of their attack, and are lining up a summer move for him, as per the report.
The Ligue club have been recently bought by American mogul Frank McCourt, and the new owner wants to see his side get back to the very top of French football. The recent signing of France international Dimitri Payet was an indication of that, and the club wants to continue that in the summer.
With attack being their top priority, plenty of strikers have been eyed in order to upgrade Rudi Garcia’s options up front. Giroud is, reportedly, one of them and the Frenchman is certainly an upgrade on current incumbent, Bafetimbi Gomis who tends to blow hot and cold in front of goal.
