Frank Lampard says he will do everything he can to ensure Olivier Giroud is a Chelsea player beyond the January transfer window. The Frenchman joined the Blues in the 2018 winter window, aiming to play regular football after struggling for such opportunities at Arsenal.
That move led to him starring for France in their successful World Cup campaign in Russia but almost two years on Giroud finds himself in the same boat.
Tammy Abraham’s form this season has left the 33-year-old scratching around for chances. While he remains a regular for Les Bleus, the noises coming from around the camp during the October international suggested that will not continue at Euro 2020 if he is still on the bench next summer.
The striker himself questioned Lampard’s decision and admitted to being open about leaving in January if he believed it would aid his hopes of leading the line for France.
Plenty of sides would take him, with clubs from the Premier League, Ligue 1 and MLS all believed to be interested.
Rather than pout and punish the player for his comments, the boss has instead praised his desire to play and promised to speak with him.
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While not providing any guarantees, Lampard hailed the former Montpellier man’s professionalism, suggesting it is that dedication that makes him want to keep the player at Stamford Bridge. “He was bang-on when he spoke to me, with what he said when he was away with France,” he is quoted as saying by the Mirror.
“He shouldn’t be happy and accept not playing. That’s what good players do. “As I said to Ollie, he will get his games and be a big influence for us. But January is a long way away.”
Despite Lampard’s comments, Giroud was still an unused substitute in Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Chelsea, defender Marcos Alonso scoring the only goal.
The striker’s chance may now come on Wednesday when the Blues take on Ajax in Champions League Group H, before travelling to Burnley next Saturday.
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