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A Perfect Lukaku Replacement – Koeman Should Go All Out To Sign This 16 Goals, 7 Assists Attacker

Olivier Giroud

Why Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud Would Be A Great Addition For Everton

Everton continue to make huge waves in the transfer market. The Toffees have been one of the most active clubs in the close season, having signed up Jordan Pickford from Sunderland, Davy Klaassen from AFC Ajax and young attacker Henry Onyekuru from KAS Eupen.

Sky Sports reports that the club have also completed the signing of Sandro Ramirez from Malaga, after activating his £5.2million release clause. A deal for Burnley centre-half Michael Keane is also in advanced stages.

Now, according to Liverpool Echo, manager Ronald Koeman is unlikely to stop his spending spree anytime soon, as the club are plotting a move for Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud.

The 30-year old has been linked with an exit from the Emirates wit`h the likes of West Ham United and Marseille named as potential destinations. However, with Everton entering the race, the balances will be definitely tilted in the favour of the Merseysiders.

Arsenal have made signing a new striker their top summer target and are reportedly close to completing the transfer of another Frenchman, Alexandre Lacazette, from Olympique Lyon. This has cast a doubt on the future of Giroud.

The Frenchman is keen on getting regular football, ahead of the World Cup year as he wants to be a part of the France national team that will travel to Russia in a year’s time.

Everton are in need of a top class striker this summer as star man Romelu Lukaku has rejected a contract extension. The 23-year old Belgian striker finished as the second highest goal-scorer in the Premier League with 25 strikes and played an extremely pivotal role in Everton finishing in the 7th place. But, the striker refused to sign a new contract that the Merseyside outfit offered as he has his eyes set on a big move. Lukaku has one year left on his current deal, and it is very likely that he will be sold in the summer.

That would leave a huge void at the top for the Toffees, especially so, considering that they will be playing in Europe next, having made it to the UEFA Europa League owing to their league position.

Giroud could be that man who can become Everton’s leading marksman in the place of Lukaku. Despite not being able to cement a regular place in Wenger’s team last season, as the manager used Alexis Sanchez in a central role, the Frenchman came up with a more than impressive return of 16 goals and 7 assists from 40 games in all competitions.

Having arrived in North London from Montpellier back in the summer of 2012, Giroud has made it a habit of scoring 15-20 goals every season, despite his place always being under a threat in the starting XI. Not the paciest of players, the 30-year old more than makes up for it with his predatory instincts inside the box and his supreme aerial ability.

Someone who can put his body to good use to hold the ball up at the top and bring his teammates into play with neat passes, Giroud is a fine finisher of the ball as well and ticks almost every box required of a striker to succeed in the Premier League.

Till date, he has amassed 164 appearances in the English top flight and has managed to score 69 goals – not bad numbers by any standards. Someone who doesn’t get his due more often than not, Giroud could excel under Koeman. After all, the Dutchman brought the best out of Graziano Pelle – a player very much similar to Giroud, during his days in charge at Southampton.

He may not turn out to be a like-to-like replacement for Lukaku, but with his proven ability of scoring goals in the Premier League and his experience, Giroud could turn out to be an excellent piece of business for Everton.