Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has issued a warning to Chelsea that he might leave in the January transfer window due to a lack of first-team opportunities.
Frank Lampard has been willing to give Chelsea’s young players a chance this season, however, Olivier Giroud has been left out in the cold as a consequence.
The 33-year-old came off the bench in France’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Turkey on Monday night and scored within four minutes. It was his third goal in four matches for France, but his header was canceled out late on by Kaan Ayhan to ensure a 1-1 draw.
The 33-year-old recently declared that he ‘doesn’t accept’ his back-up role at the club and could leave the Blues just like he did with Arsenal.
Giroud is behind the striking pecking order at Chelsea with Tammy Abraham currently enjoying a great run of form and Michy Batshuayi saw as the first choice option ahead of Giroud off the bench.
But Giroud is still determined to fight for his place at Chelsea.
Giroud said: ‘I’m going to fight for my place at Chelsea and we will take stock of the situation in January.
‘If you ask me whether I want to leave I’ll say ‘not necessarily’ – but other things enter the equation. I cannot be happy with what I have at the moment. I am 33 but I still have several good years left in me.
I still have the legs and a profile that I think will enable me to keep playing at the top level. I feel in good shape physically and I lead a healthy lifestyle. I want to enjoy myself and play matches.
‘That could be for Chelsea – who is my first choice – or elsewhere. But if they force me to make a decision I will do it – just like when I left Arsenal.’
According to The Sun, Inter Milan are keeping tabs on the World Cup winner’s situation and Antonio Conte may offer him a route out of west London should his situation not improve.
