The blues

Chelsea consider move for Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud as back-up option
a day ago / autty
Chelsea are eyeing up Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud for a possible move across London this month.

With Michy Batshuayi out of favour and likely to leave Stamford Bridge if the Blues can secure a replacement, manager Antonio Conte is keen to sign a new frontman to provide competition and support for No 9 Alvaro Morata.

Edin Dzeko is understood to be Conte's first choice and Chelsea are in talks with Roma but Giroud is one of many back-up options.

Chelsea's search for a deputy to Morata has also seen them linked with Andy Carroll, Peter Crouch and Ashley Barnes.

If he doesn't end up at Chelsea, Giroud could move to Germany before the transfer window closes.

The 31-year-old Frenchman has been the subject of negotiations between Arsenal and Dortmund, who are interested in taking him as well as a large fee in exchange for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

It is highly unlikely that Gunners manager Arsene Wenger would allow Giroud to join a top-four rival were Chelsea to enquire about his availability.

Arsenal let Alexis Sanchez to join Manchester United earlier this month but only because Wenger felt he was getting a good deal by signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan in return.

Giroud might be tempted by a switch to Stamford Bridge though.

The former Montpellier star, who is on £90,000 a week at Arsenal, loves London, so may well prefer Chelsea to Dortmund.

Wherever he is when the transfer window closes, Giroud will be desperate to play more frequently in the second half of the season as he bids to make France's World Cup squad in the summer.

He has only started one Premier League match this term, making a further 14 appearances as a sub and scoring four goals.

But he has been a regular in Arsenal's Europa League campaign, starting all six games and netting three times.