Olivier Giroud has interest from Crystal Palace and Fulham as the former Arsenal striker eyes a move back to London.
According to Football Insider, Crystal Palace and Fulham want to bring Olivier Giroud back to the Premier League. The former Arsenal striker could sign a new deal at AC Milan but remains open to returning to London and continuing his career in England.
If late-bloomers in football had a face, it should be that of Olivier Giroud. After spending the early parts of his career, he truly broke onto the big scene after a title-winning campaign with Montpellier. Arsene Wenger was smart enough to snap him and ensured the Frenchman developed his game under his tutelage.
After five and a half-years and three FA Cups under his belt, Giroud moved to bitter rivals Chelsea. In his spell at Stamford Bridge, he won the FA Cup, Europa League and Champions League titles to cap off a successful spell with the Blues.
His subsequent move to AC Milan has borne more success, as he was instrumental in their Serie A title win last season. Considering his age, Giroud remains on a short-term deal that expires in the summer. Milan are trying hard to hand him a new contract, but there are difficulties in getting the agreement in place.
Recent chatter in the media suggests Giroud would consider returning to the Premier League. Manchester United were considering a move in January but then backed away and brought in Wout Weghorst instead. Despite his advancing age, Giroud continues to play at the top of his game.
He recently became France’s all-time leading goalscorer at the World Cup, surpassing Thierry Henry’s record. The former Arsenal striker was also instrumental for France and helped them reach the final.
While there are reports suggesting interest from Barcelona, London-based clubs could also make an approach. Patrick Vieira likes the profile of the French forward, and he could be a good addition to his team.
Crystal Palace have struggled this season for goals and could use Giroud’s experience from the middle. If he desires to return to London, Crystal Palace may prove a good bet for the AC Milan striker to continue his career for the next few years.
Meanwhile, Fulham are also keen as they may look for a new striker. Marco Silva may have wanted more involvement from Aleksandar Mitrovic this season. But his fitness issues have hindered their cause. Moreover, Giroud could be seen as an ideal replacement for the Serb due to the similarities in their physicality.
Additionally, Fulham could find themselves in European competition if they continue performing at their current levels. If they do end up there, a player like Giroud would bring tremendous experience and could complement fellow experienced guys and mainly former Chelsea teammate Willian.
Milan are confident of agreeing on a new deal for Giroud, with the striker scoring 11 goals this season. They will want continuity for one more season at least, during which they might sort out their long-term plan for the centre-forward position.
