One of the bigger stories of the January transfer window, especially towards the end, was the future of Olivier Giroud.
The Chelsea striker was barely playing under Frank Lampard, and with the 2020 Euros to play for, it was widely expected for the veteran to find himself a new club where he would get regular game time.
In the end, the Stamford Bridge side blocked a departure, which, helped by Tammy Abraham’s injury, led to him featuring more, and performing well.
Unfortunately for the 33-year-old, the international competition has now been pushed back to 2021, and with a contract expiring at Chelsea in June, decisions will need to be made.
L’Equipe on Wednesday explain UEFA’s decision to delay the tournament was ‘met with a touch of disappointment, quickly chased away by understanding and acceptance’, which now leads him to an ‘extended challenge’ of making next year’s competition.
There are positives and negatives to this postponement for the player, with the downside being he will be a year older and approaching 35 when the competition starts.
That means he needs to stay as fit as possible, which means playing as regularly as he can.
Despite the recent upturn in game time, he knows he won’t get that at Chelsea, but he’s also not given up on his dream of representing France one last time on one of the biggest stages, which is why he refused offers from America, Qatar and China, according to L’Equipe.
It’s stated Giroud ‘intends to continue at the highest level, in a big European league for one, two or three seasons’.
In fact, his advisors, when talking to clubs in January, were negotiating two and a half year deals with interested clubs.
As a member of his entourage said when speaking to the French paper: “Next season, he will have the extra challenge of grab and hold onto the train that passes, the one leads to the Euros”.
