‘And now the countdown starts’.
That’s how Gazzetta dello Sport look at the situation involving Olivier Giroud and his exit from Stamford Bridge, with Milan simply waiting for him to chat with the Blues.
The Italian newspaper explain ‘representatives of the French striker have made the commitment to contact Chelsea as soon as possible to get the green light at no cost’.
Milan have a two-year deal worth €4m a year with an option for a third season if all goes well waiting for him, and the only way the deal goes through is if they can get him on a free.
It is now up to Giroud’s entourage to ‘unravel the problem’, especially with the relationship between the Serie A side and Chelsea currently a bit tense following drawn out negotiations for the Fikayo Tomori deal.
Therefore ‘it cannot be excluded that Giroud himself takes the situation in hand, addressing Abramovich directly’ to get his move.
The two are said to have ‘an excellent relationship’, which is why the Russian owner was happy to grant him a ‘soft’ exit strategy should an offer of the Frenchman’s liking arrive.
It has, from Milan, and now it’s up to the Chelsea big boss to hold up his end of the deal.
