Blues forward Olivier Giroud had Serie A side Inter Milan willing to offer a three-year deal to sign him on a free transfer before Chelsea took up their option to extend his contract by another 12 months.
The 33-year-old World Cup-winning striker was in the final months of his deal at Stamford Bridge and was free to negotiate a pre-contract with Inter putting together a package worth more than £70,000-a-week tying him at the San Siro until 2023.
Another London side Tottenham Hotspur were interested in signing Giroud four months ago in the January transfer window, while Inter and Lazio wanted to take him to Italy. They were allowed to discuss terms for next season but priorities shifted as sports came to a halt following the coronavirus outbreak in Europe. Chelsea also had the opportunity to extend his contract by another season.
Giroud appeared likely to leave London in January after just two Premier League starts in the first half of the campaign under Frank Lampard. The 41-year-old English manager did not sign a forward during the winter window, so Giroud stayed and led the attack in the five games for Chelsea before football’s suspension due to the deadly bug, coronavirus.
By triggering Giroud’s extra 12 months at West London, Chelsea has made sure the French star will be at the club beyond June 30 when his deal ran out, which could have seen him leave the club for free in the summer. They will also get a transfer fee should any clubs follow up their interest with a cash bid over the summer or winter transfer market.
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Inter manager and former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte signed Romelu Lukaku, Ashley Young, Alexis Sanchez and Victor Moses from the Premier League and had Giroud in his sights to add a different dimension to his Serie A attack next season. Their offer was the most appealing to the former Arsenal striker Giroud.
Lampard praised Giroud’s attitude despite enduring a difficult time January where he wanted to leave but ended up working his way back into the first-team plans of Chelsea who are still fighting for a top 4 berth.
