Following stray rumors from random sources earlier this week, last night we got a report from Goal’s Chelsea correspondent, Nizaar Kinsella, too, that the club have “opened talks with Olivier Giroud’s representatives over a new contract”.
Of course things are never as easy as opening some talks and then signing some papers the very next day, even when things are being delayed indefinitely by a pandemic.
As usual, Chelsea are offering only a single-year* extension for the 33-year-old veteran striker who’s had himself a proper resurgence since January, proving himself a capable enough backup to Tammy Abraham after getting his chance from Frank Lampard at long last. But Giroud may very well want longer terms, which the earlier reports built up as a source of potential conflict, and also get a mention in a less contentious narrative from Kinsella. Inter supposedly had a 2.5-year offer on the table in January before breaking various promises.
And so begins the slow dance. It’s okay, we’ve got plenty of time. Football won’t back for a while.
* How exactly we will be able to count a “year” will depend on exactly when the 2020-21 season might begin. FIFA have officially extended the current season beyond June 30 in their latest guidance.