Why Chelsea must hold onto Giroud amidst Atletico Madrid interest

As per reports, Atletico Madrid are looking at the possibility of signing Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud on loan. However, the Blues would prefer to sell the Frenchman permanently to the Spanish club.

Giroud, 31, was a part of the France squad that won the 2018 World Cup, although he failed to net a single goal in seven appearances for Les Blues in Russia.

Giroud only moved to Chelsea in January for £18m but established himself as the first choice under former manager Antonio Conte ahead of Alvaro Morata, scored 5 goals, and pushed himself back into the France national side. However, the Blues are now under the management of Maurizio Sarri and Giroud’s future is seemingly up in the air.

The reason for Giroud’s uncertain future at Stamford Bridge is Sarri’s need for another striker ahead of the new campaign. Sarri reportedly wants Juventus’ Gonzalo Higuain as the man to lead his team’s attack, which not only puts Giroud’s future in doubt but also Morata’s.

It is clear why Sarri is keen to bolster his attacking options by signing Higuain, as the Argentine striker enjoyed the most prolific spell of his career under the Italian manager at Napoli. Even if Chelsea agrees on a deal for Higuain, Giroud is a striker who the club shouldn’t offload at any cost.

Giroud, a true target man – a physical, big and towering striker who holds up play well and works tirelessly all 90 minutes. He is neither the agilest nor the most the prolific but the Frenchman has his own style of play, capable of producing an odd moment of brilliance out of nowhere.

The 31-year-old became a crucial figure in Chelsea’s late revival last season under Conte and ensured the Italian manager walked out of west London with an FA Cup trophy.

Giroud is an effective centre-forward to have in the squad, an impact player who can get off the bench and change the course of the game. The Frenchman was famous for his super-sub displays at his former club Arsenal that made him such a lovable figure amongst the fans.

He lacks pace and isn’t quite the example of a prolific centre-forward every team craves for but his burly figure has often proved to be a real handful for defenders in the Premier League.

Indeed, Giroud isn’t the ideal striker for Sarri’s rip-roaring and expansive style of football but the 31-year-old can be an effective squad player under the Italian.

Considering everything, it would be foolish on Chelsea’s part if they offload a Premier League proven player in Giroud this summer, just like they unceremoniously did last year with Diego Costa.