Olivier Giroud contemplating Chelsea future due to lack of playing time — report

Just a few days after Inter Milan were rumored to be thinking about a move for Olivier Giroud (again) in the winter transfer window, fresh reports seem to indicate that the he himself is mulling over his future.

According to CBS Sports, Giroud will look for another club in January (just like last January), should the situation with his playing time remain the same. The veteran striker has played just 151 minutes in all competitions this season, and the number doesn’t look set to increase anytime soon. Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham are both ahead in the pecking order, and while Giroud is arguably the best a club can have as a third-choice striker, it’s understandable that he doesn’t want to stay in that role.

With the European Championships coming up in the summer, the 34-year-old doesn’t want to risk his place in the France squad, and wants to play more to keep his name on the national team roster — even if Didier “No.1 Giroud Fan” Deschamps will likely pick him anyway.

Frank Lampard himself is well aware of Giroud’s importance and contribution to Chelsea recent successes, but admits that it is difficult to give the big man a place in the starting lineup.

“Yes, he has given a typically great response to train as well as possible and support the group. He is amazing around the group and that is just a fact with Oli and maybe not a fact with people all around the team. I can’t speak highly enough of him on that side.

“It is part of my job I don’t like with good players, top people who are around the group that don’t always play, but I have those issues. Tammy Abraham started at least half of the games last season and he was one of the top scorers in the Premier League. When Oli came in, he performed very well in restart for us which was a huge factor in us getting into the top four.

“I have difficult questions to answer and selections in the team. I have great professionals and Oli is absolutely showing that.”

- Frank Lampard; source: Goal

Chelsea have been extremely lucky to have a player of Giroud’s stature to act as a deputy to Tammy Abraham and Timo Werner, and should he depart this January, the club will have an extremely hard task of finding someone who can fill his boots.