Chelsea to be proved right in selling Giroud if Tuchel’s transfer plan comes off

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Chelsea will be proved right in selling Olivier Giroud to AC Milan – if Thomas Tuchel's transfer plans come off this summer.

Giroud is closing on a move to the San Siro after various outlets reported he had agreed a deal with the Serie A side.

The former Arsenal striker is expected to join Stefano Pioli's side on a two-year deal, with Chelsea set to bank up to £2.5million.

It's not a huge transfer fee – and nor would one be expected for a 34-year-old who has just entered the final year of his contract.

But the fact that Chelsea will receive any fee at all is testament to the work of director Marina Granovskaia, who tied Giroud down to a new deal only last month even though it was clear the striker could look to move on this summer.

It could prove to be the second time in a year that a contract extension for Giroud could prove to be a transfer masterstroke.

During the 2019/20 campaign, the French forward was linked with a move to Inter Milan, who were looking to snap him up on a free transfer as his contract was due to expire last summer.

But he signed a one-year extension – and the rest is history, as he scored crucial Champions League goals to ultimately help Chelsea on their way to be crowned kings of Europe.

In the end his match-winning quarter-final performance against Atletico Madrid proved to be his last start in the competition, with the striker used sparingly under Tuchel's charge.

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It seemed clear his time at Chelsea was coming to an end, with Timo Werner the manager's first choice to lead the line despite the German striker's struggles in front of goal.

The low fee that will reportedly be agreed between Chelsea and AC Milan suggests that the Premier League club wanted to make it easy for Giroud to secure the move he deserves, with the French forward having shown he can still perform at the top level.

The France star is clearly keen for more action as he faces the final years of his career – and the second half of last season showed he wasn't likely to get that under Tuchel.

After 39 goals in 119 appearances for Chelsea – helping the club to the Europa League and FA Cup as well as last term's Champions league triumph – he deserves the chance to make the most of his remaining career.

But his expected departure will leave Tuchel with just two viable centre-forward options in Werner and Tammy Abraham.

Despite his pace and movement causing plenty of teams problems, Werner's finishing has let him down and he is yet to show he can be the prolific goalscorer Chelsea need to bring back the Premier League title.

And Abraham could follow Giroud through the exit door, having been linked with a return to Aston Villa.

The plan is clearly to bring in a top-class striker, with Erling Haaland, Romelu Lukaku and Harry Kane all on Chelsea's radar.

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A successful raid for Haaland wouldn't leave much room for Giroud, with Werner likely to be used in a wide role, as a second striker or as a back-up for the main main.

Of course, prising the hotshot away from Borussia Dortmund will be the toughest challenge facing Chelsea this summer.

If they manage that and he brings his Bundesliga scoring form with him, Chelsea will be vindicated in selling Giroud – just as they were over their decision to give him a new deal last year.

  • Champions League
  • FA Cup
  • Premier League
  • Europa League
  • Serie A
  • Harry Kane
  • Chelsea FC
  • AC Milan FC
  • Erling Haaland

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