Everton-linked Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud doesn’t want a move to Marseille, according to Rudi Garcia.
Marseille boss Rudi Garcia has revealed to L’Equipe that Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud does not want to join his club this summer.
Giroud has been heavily linked with a move away from Arsenal this summer after Arsene Wenger signed Alexandre Lacazette in a move which does nothing to brighten the 30-year-old’s first-team prospects.
The France international, who scored 12 Premier League goals in 11 starts last season, is valued at around £30 million by the Gunners, according to The Mirror.
West Ham United, Everton and Marseille appear to be the three most likely clubs to sign him, based on speculation, but the Hammers are out of the running after spending £16 million on Javier Hernandez.
And Garcia has now revealed that Giroud is not keen on a return to Ligue 1 which, logically, leaves Everton as his most likely destination, if in fact he leaves the club.
“I do not think he wants to come to Marseille, Olivier Giroud. That’s the problem,” he told L’Equipe.
“It is understandable – as he is a striker with the French national team who is making progress with Arsenal – that when he does change clubs, his interests might lie beyond OM.”
Garcia’s comments should prompt Everton boss Ronald Koeman to now make his move.
Giroud is an excellent striker who has many more years of goals in him, given that pace is nowhere near one of his strongest assets, so losing some of it won’t be detrimental to his game.
It is a lot of money but if Koeman is prepared to spend £30 million on Danny Welbeck, according to The Sun, then he must spend it on Giroud, who has a much better injury record and a much better goal record.
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