Arsenal and Newcastle United have both been warned off Montpellier hitman Olivier Giroud. At that price they’d be best off looking elsewhere.
The Mail reports today that Arsenal are considering a swoop for £50 million striker Olivier Giroud.
We can tell you right now, that it is not going to happen. Certainly not at that price.
The 25-year-old has a total of 20 goals in 29 games this season for club and country, and is one of French football’s highest rated properties.
He is set to feature at Euro 2012, and could line-up against England in the opening game.
Even so, such a figure of £50 million is way over-priced.
To put his professional career in context so far, at 25 he has not yet scored 100 goals, and last season he bagged just 14, fairly decent but certainly nothing special.
He has had one tremendous season, in France- not Spain, Germany or Italy, and this why clubs will not be tempted into a huge Andy Carroll-like outlay on a striker who has not proved himself over a lengthy period.
Both Newcastle and Arsenal are the two most unlikely clubs to be linked with this type of transfer, with a net spend in minus figures for the past five seasons, prefer to buy low-key names that can be moulded into superstars at a reasonable price, not an over-inflated one.
Nevertheless the Mail report that Arsene Wenger has dispatched scout Gilles Grimandi to compile a full dossier on the player, likewise Newcastle and their scout Graham Carr.
A deal could be done, but it would have to be in the region of £15-20 million to be value for money for the French international.
If Montpellier owner Louis Nicollin is serious about the £50 million fee then he has almost guaranteed his striker will stay next season. That price could get you a Falcao or a Cavani. Or indeed a Torres.
If it is likely a negotiating tactic, then Nicollin has likely succeeded in getting a couple of million added onto his actual price tag, as the club are in a good position as they don’t have to sell.
But for £50 million, interested clubs should forget it.
How much is Olivier Giroud worth?
image: © yvelines
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