West Ham are ready to try their luck by making a move for Olivier Giroud this summer, reports the Daily Mirror.
The 30-year-old striker spent the majority of the season just passed on the bench and confirmed last week that he ‘will not settle for another year with such limited playing time’.
His situation at the club did draw some attention from several teams in Italy but mainly from Marseille, with Giroud not ruling out the possibility of joining the Ligue 1 outfit this summer.
However, it is now believed West Ham will join the race and are confident of matching any offer made to Arsenal for Giroud’s services.
Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis were in Nice last week, reportedly talking to Lyon president Jean Michel-Aulas about a possible move for Alexandre Lacazette, while a swoop for Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe also confirmed.
Last season, Wenger often preferred to use Alexis Sanchez through the middle while the Frenchman went with Danny Welbeck ahead of Giroud in the FA Cup final a few weeks ago.
Despite his lack of starts, the former Montpellier man did net some crucial goals but looks to have become Wenger’s plan B rather than A. And should the Gunners manage to land either Lacazette and Mbappe it highly likely that Giroud, who cost Arsenal about £12m back in 2012, will seek an exit from the Emirates this summer.
