La Liga heavyweights Barcelona are reportedly mulling over signing 36-year-old AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud this month.
According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercatoweb, Olivier Giroud is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The Catalan giants are considering launching a late move for the 36-year-old AC Milan striker before the January transfer window shuts down.
Olivier Giroud is one of the most underrated strikers of his generation despite achieving a lot of success in his career. The French international has won nearly every honour at the club level during his stints with Montpellier, Arsenal, and Chelsea. And he has also won the World Cup with his nation.
The 36-year-old was recently in fine form as France reached the FIFA World Cup 2022 final. And he has nine goals and six assists in 24 appearances for AC Milan thus far this season. But Giroud’s contract situation has left the Rossoneri in a spot of bother as he is in the final six months of his deal. Such a situation has captured the attention of Barcelona.
Barcelona will see Memphis Depay depart from Spotify Camp Nou in the coming days. The Dutch attacker is on the verge of joining Atletico Madrid. And while Depay was not a regular anymore for Barcelona, he will leave a spot open in the offensive unit. More importantly, Xavi Hernandez will be without a viable backup for Robert Lewandowski.
The Barcelona squad has no recognised striker apart from Lewandowski. And Depay was the closest thing to a backup for the veteran Polish striker at Camp Nou. Widespread reports had linked Barcelona with 2022 World Cup winner Joaquin Correa. But another Barcelona-based striker has emerged on their radar.
With Barcelona no longer pursuing Correa, Olivier Giroud might be a candidate to bolster the squad. The Frenchman might be well into his thirties but has shown little signs of regression lately. And the Blaugrana can use his experience to go deep in the remaining three competitions this season.
The Catalan giants are set to monitor Giroud’s contract situation in the coming days. And Barcelona might launch the offensive for the 36-year-old World Cup winner if Milan cannot tie him to a new deal. It will be interesting to see if a late January move sees the light of day for the French striker.
