France international Olivier Giroud has hinted that he could pursue a fresh challenge away from Arsenal during this summer’s transfer window, as per Daily Mail.
The 30-year-old striker has been strongly tipped to leave the Emirates after the Gunners landed the services of Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon in a club-record £52.7 m deal.
Giroud has emerged as a probable target for Premier League club Everton in recent weeks, and the Frenchman admits that he could consider a potential switch elsewhere on his return to north London.
“It (leaving) is an option to be honest with you,” Giroud said while speaking on the club’s pre-season tour. “I’m here in pre-season, I wanted to travel. Some people asked me if I am going to travel or not and of course, I am Arsenal player and for the moment I am here so I just want to prepare well for the season and we will see later.”
Giroud who earns £100,000-a-week on his current contract came on as a second-half substitute during the Gunners’ 2-0 friendly victory over Sydney FC on Thursday, but it was Lacazette who caught the eye after he bagged his first-ever goal for the Gunners from close range.
The former Montpellier man was largely used as a ‘Super Sub’ during the course of the 2016/17 season, but he still managed to notch 12 goals with just 11 league starts.
Giroud’s current contract lasts until the summer of 2020, and this probably puts the Gunners in a comfortable position to hold onto his services, should Arsene Wenger decide to do so this summer.
Everton are said to be planning a bid of around £20m for the Frenchman, but they have yet to lodge a formal approach of any kind to sign the striker, who has bagged 98 goals across all competitions with Arsenal.
