Giroud’s Latest Comments Suggest He’ll Seek Summer Exit From Chelsea

Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud says he won’t accept his current role in the Blues squad.

The Frenchman scored a hat-trick in the London club’s 5-0 win over Dynamo Kiev on Thursday night, but his starts have been mostly restricted to the Europa League.

Manager Maurizio Sarri has started Giroud just six times in the Premier League, with just one goal in domestic competitions this campaign.

Asked whether he was content to be playing just in the Europa League, Giroud replied:

“No. No chance, I’m a competitor. We don’t know about the future, who can say? We’ll see. I have been through many tough moments in my career. I just want to enjoy playing football winning the World Cup last summer.”

“I want to play every single game and to be happy on the pitch but I am not picking the team.”

Giroud has not signed a new contract, and with his current deal expiring in the summer, it’s possible that the 32-year-old will leave on a free transfer.

With Chelsea’s transfer ban, the club could be forced to start next season with either Tammy Abraham or Michy Batshuayi as the club’s first choice striker.

As things stand, they can’t trigger their option to sign Gonzalo Higuain from Juventus, and Alvaro Morata’s loan move to Atletico Madrid will likely be made permanent in the summer.