Chelsea and France national team striker Olivier Giroud’s agent Michael Manuello has stated that for the time being it is too early to talk of anything concrete with regard to his client’s future.
Giroud’s contract with Chelsea is due to expire at the end of the season and he has drawn links to a number of clubs ahead of the upcoming January transfer window, including Inter.
“At 34, if the situation does not change at Chelsea this time around, there will be no option to extend the contract. So there will be the desire to go have fun and play. Last year there was still an option,” Manuello explained in an interview with French news outlet FootMercato.
“It is different now, especially since Chelsea were also able to make purchases unlike last season. So there was a need to keep the players because behind Abraham, there were not many forwards except Olivier and Michy Batshuayi in 2019-2020. Now the situation is different, so it will be easier for all parties involved.”
Asked what the current situation is, Manuello went on to state: “For now it is too early to know what is really concrete and what is not. The rumours of interest are of little interest to me.
“We will see what the situation is like in mid-December because before then, as the transfer market will open in January, it will be just rumours.
“We don’t know where the clubs will be or how Olivier will perform with Chelsea. We don’t know if there will be injuries or if there will be opportunities. There is no real work on this at the moment. We don’t know today.
“They have only played eight games in the league. Chelsea will play 11 games by January. Olivier belongs to his club, he is focused on the competition and we will see from mid-December what to decide, one way or another.”
Manuello was then asked if a return to France can be excluded at this point in time and what his client is looking for at this stage of his career.
“Olivier already responded to this topic. It is not a priority. It is always possible depending on what will arise and it is not to be excluded but it is not a priority.
“He played in France and was champion with Montpellier. Today he is looking for a place where he can enjoy playing, have a good quality of life and feel strong emotions.
“So if he can ever discover something new again, he will look for something new. The ideal would be for him to discover another culture.”
In conclusion Manuello refused to rule out the possibility of Giroud moving to another Premier League club.
“A new English club with big goals could also make him think because the Premier League remains an extraordinary league, which offers a different sort of pleasure. So, if a great Premier League club came along, yes, he might think about it but he is ready to go and live abroad.”
This season Giroud has been limited to just six appearances across all competitions, five of which have come as a substitute. In his time on the park he has scored a single goal.
