Lazio are reportedly looking to reinforce their attacking unit this summer, with Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud being the first priority.
According to a report by Italian outlet Gazetta dello Sport, Lazio are looking to boost their options in attack by signing Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud in the summer transfer window. The World Cup winner is set to become a free agent this June, and Simone Inzaghi wants Lazio to pounce on the chance to secure his services.
Giroud moved to Chelsea from Arsenal in January 2018 following a five-and-a-half-year stint with the Gunners. Since making the cross-London switch, Giroud has not been given enough opportunities, with Tammy Abraham leading the line with elan for the Blues this term.
He was a crucial part of Chelsea’s Europa League winning team last season, ending the competition as the top scorer with 11 goals. He also showed up key in the finals against former club Arsenal, scoring and assisting one goal apiece.
The French striker, meanwhile, was very close to signing for Lazio in the winter transfer window, when opportunities were relatively few and far between for him. Apart from the Serie A giants, Chelsea’s bitter rivals Tottenham were also linked with a shock late move in January, although nothing materialised in the end.
However, Giroud has featured more regularly in the starting lineup, owing to Abraham’s recent injury. He has 2 goals in 9 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, both of which have come within the past month, coming up clutch in recent games.
According to the report, Lazio will look to offer the Frenchman a different deal to what they had offered him in January. Gazzetta also suggest that Giroud and his agents were quite impressed with the mentality of the Roman club and how it operated.
The former Ligue 1 Golden Boot winner has also attracted interest from other clubs, like Inter Milan, who are battling Lazio and Juventus for the title this season. Antonio Conte remains interested in latching up Giroud, having done so while at Chelsea. However, Inter will face an uphill battle with Lazio for him.
As the 33-year-old moves into the twilight of his career, a move to the Serie A could turn out to be a good idea. The Italian league is often regarded as slower compared to the other top leagues, and could be the perfect place for Giroud to end his career, although it remains to be seen if a move to Lazio sees the light of the day.
