Chelsea have exercised the option that they had to extend striker Olivier Giroud’s contract with the club for a further season according to a report from Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia transfer market Gianluca Di Marzio.
The Frenchman has been heavily linked with a move to both Inter and Lazio and as per the report, which appeared on Di Marzio’s eponymous website, both clubs remain interested in signing him but they will now be unable to acquire him on a free transfer which they could have had Chelsea not exercised this option.
Di Marzio’s report goes on to add that even though they have extended Giroud’s contract with the club, Chelsea remain interested in signing Napoli’s Dries Mertens, whose contract with the Stadio San Paolo club is due to expire at the end of the season.
Inter, AS Monaco and Roma are also reportedly interested in signing the Belgian national team attacker too.
