West Ham have been named as favourites in the pursuit of Olivier Giroud in a report this week as the French striker looks to find a way out of Chelsea in the near future.
The Hammers are unlikely to have the race to sign the 34-year-old all their own way, however, as Football Italia reported that four of the biggest hitters in Serie A are all interested in signing the World Cup winner.
Inter Milan, Roma, Lazio and Juventus would all provide stiff competition for David Moyes, who is keen to bolster his striking options in the wake of Michail Antionio’s recent injury absence.
The Italian outlet stated that it’s likely a move to any of the Serie A quartet would only result in a similar situation to the one he currently faces as ‘third or fourth choice striker’.
Giroud is eyeing up one final international hurrah next summer in the rearranged Euro 2020 and France national team coach Didier Deschamps has said: “Olivier has been affected, first of all with the situation he has at his club, knowing that he has a large frame and that he needs rhythm. It’s hard.”
The experienced striker has only appeared six times this season for Chelsea and could find himself a long way down the France centre-forward pecking order if he fails to obtain much more game-time in the months ahead.
READ WEST HAM VERDICT
The need for additional strikers in the Hammers’ squad is there for all to see. While at 34 he would only provide a short term solution, with 211 senior club goals and 44 at international level, a low-cost signing of his quality would surely be a no-brainer for the Irons.
Eighth in the all-time Premier League list of aerial battles won by strikers, Giroud is also adept at holding the ball up and bringing teammates into play, as well as linking up with wingers, attributes which Moyes likes to see in his forwards.
With six goals and three assists in nine Premier League games against the Irons, it could be worth signing him just to ensure he can’t score against the club anymore.
Also, after being touted with a move in every transfer window for the last four years, it would be nice to finally see Giroud make east London his home.
