Atletico Madrid are reportedly in talks with Chelsea over a deal to sign Olivier Giroud on loan as Los Rojiblancos look to partner the striker alongside fellow 2018 FIFA World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann.
Sky Sports in Italy (h/t AS‘ Patricia Cazon) reported the two clubs are already in negotiations, and Italian football journalist Tancredi Palmeri wrote there will be an option to make the move permanent next summer. Giroud failed to score at the World Cup but was a positive utility in attack for Les Bleus nonetheless as they beat Croatia in the final to lift the crown in Russia.
AS‘ report mentioned the impending arrival of forward Nikola Kalinic on loan from AC Milan, and though that deal has an obligation to buy, it seems the same won’t be the case for Giroud.
Any deal is complicated by the fact Giroud only has a year left on his contract, however. It seems unlikely Chelsea would loan the frontman out for the final year of his deal without some remuneration—unless a new contract was agreed before he left, or new manager Maurizio Sarri is just that desperate to get rid.
It’s a commendation of the art Giroud, 31, has partly mastered in being able to play an important striker role for France while having little direct impact on goal himself.
Atleti boss Diego Simeone evidently sees potential in that understanding Giroud shares with Griezmann, as well as the value he can add to a forward line also housing Diego Costa.
Fernando Torres’ departure for Japanese outfit Sagan Tosu frees up one slot in attack, while Luciano Vietto may be expected to head out on loan again or be sold after returning from his temporary stint with Valencia.
Gianluca Di Marzio recently shed some light on why Chelsea may be willing to sell Giroud, too, as it seems strange that new boss Sarri would part ways with a player who did well at Stamford Bridge following his January arrival.
Links between the Blues and Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain are beginning to tighten, and Corriere dello Sport‘s Alfredo Pedulla wrote that activity is set to increase.
Giroud’s prospects may be best served at his current club considering Alvaro Morata struggled for form last term and Michy Batshuayi spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Borussia Dortmund.
That contrasts with the stiff competition the likes of Griezmann and Costa would pose, although the idea of a loan switch to the sunnier Wanda Metropolitano may appeal to a player who turns 32 in September.