The contract of Olivier Giroud is set to expire at the end of this season. The Blues will most likely not renew the contract of the veteran beyond the current campaign. Keeping him at the club will be a step in the wrong direction. Not only is the Frenchman not a prolific scorer but he is also now 32 years old.
So far this season, the 2018 world cup winner has played 17 times in the league and scored one goal while he has provided four assists.
He is still good enough to represent a mid-table team in England or France but not good enough to play for a team chasing the Premier League title such as the Blues.
A striker who the West London giants must consider to replace Giroud is Fulham forward Aleksander Mitrovic. Despite the Cottagers struggling to avoid relegation this season from the top-flight, the Serbian has so far been their shining star. The 24-year-old has so far played in 22 top-flight games for the Cottagers and scored eight goals while providing two assists.
According to a report published by The Sun, Mitrovic has become unsettled at Craven Cottage since Slavisa Jokanovic was sacked as the club’s manager. He is definitely a player worthy of playing on the top half of the Premier League and could potentially be a world-class player in the right environment.
If Fulham do get relegated, then Mitrovic will most likely leave the club. Considering the performances that he has shown this season, he may even leave if the club does manage to survive the drop under Claudio Ranieri.
Mitrovic will not be the ideal first-choice forward for a club like Chelsea, however, he would be an ideal candidate to have as a support striker and could also develop into a world-class forward if he is managed well.
Mitrovic is not the fastest of strikers but he is quite adept at holding onto the ball and losing his marker. Mitrovic is capable of making an instant impact at Stamford Bridge as he is Premier League proven and could help to solve Maurizio Sarri’s front-line problems next season.
