Chelsea Set Asking Price for Wantaway Striker Olivier Giroud in January

?Chelsea will demand £5m from any interested side to sell wantaway striker Olivier Giroud once the January transfer window opens.

The 33-year-old has started just twice in all competitions this season and has regularly struggled to make the matchday squad, with both Tammy Abraham and Michy Batshuayi ahead of him in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.

He will be out of contract at the end of the season, but ?The Express claim that ?Chelsea will demand £5m if they are to sell ?Giroud before he can walk away for free. 

Giroud can begin discussing a free transfer overseas as soon as the January transfer window opens, but English sides must wait until closer to the end of his contract before they can make contact with him.

?Crystal Palace are believed to be keen on Giroud. The Eagles have struggled greatly in front of goal this season, having netted just ten goals in their 12 appearances – the second lowest tally in the ?Premier League behind ?Watford.

If they want Giroud as soon as possible, Palace will have to meet Chelsea’s demands of £5m. Roy Hodgson may well feel pressured to do so, especially considering there is interest in Giroud from abroad.

Antonio Conte is believed to be keen on a reunion with Giroud at ?Inter, while ?Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps are also said to have expressed an interest in the World Cup-winning Frenchman.

Back in France, Nice, Bordeaux, Marseille and Lyon have all been monitoring his situation, so there is expected to be plenty of options for Giroud to choose from.

Given all of those overseas sides can agree a contract with Giroud in January, Palace may need to act quick to try and get themselves to the front of the queue for his signature, meaning they will have to part with £5m.

A move away from Chelsea certainly seems inevitable for Giroud, and £5m is a very reasonable fee for a veteran striker with plenty of Premier League experience. That figure should not be a problem for Palace, who still have almost the entirety of the £50m raised by Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s departure burning a hole in their pocket.

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