Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has said that the Blues will activate a clause in the contract of striker Olivier Giroud that will see the Frenchman remain at Stamford Bridge until the end of next season.
The 32-year-old Giroud arrived at Chelsea from Arsenal last January. His contract was due to come to an end this summer, however, there was a clause in his contract to extend by a further season.
Since arriving at the Blues, Giroud has mainly been used as a second-choice striker. Under Antonio Conte and under Sarri during the first half of the season, he played second fiddle to Alvaro Morata. After Morata left the club to join Atletico Madrid on loan in January, Sarri brought in Gonzalo Higuain from Juventus on loan. Since then, the Argentine has been used as the first-choice striker for the club in the Premier League.
Since arriving at the Blues, Giroud’s Premier League appearances have been mainly consigned to appearances off the bench. He has, however, starred for his club in the Europa League this season and has netted ten times so far in Europe’s second-tier club competition from 11 games.
Chelsea may not be able to bring in any new players to their club next summer after FIFA slapped them with a two-window transfer ban in February after finding them guilty of infringements with regards to signing young players. With Gonzalo Higuain also set to leave the club and return to Juventus this summer, this could explain the reasons as to why the club has chosen to extend Giroud’s deal even though he is past his prime.
“He is sure [to stay] because the club has an option for another year, another season,” said Sarri as quoted by The Daily Sun.
“I spoke to the club two days ago and we agreed to exercise the option.
“So, he will remain.”
