It is no surprise Chelsea seem determined to keep hold of Olivier Giroud.
He has, since his reintroduction to the side early this year, reminded everyone that he is amongst the most accomplished strikers in the Premier League.
The Frenchman looked certain to leave in January, having made just five league appearances and with six months of his contract remaining.
But things have changed. An impressive run of performances following an injury to Tammy Abraham has seemingly put Giroud back in Frank Lampard’s plans.
It will have helped that his last game – before football across Europe was postponed – was a 4-0 win over Everton. He was a standout performer in that victory, leading the line with typical authority and scoring his side’s fourth goal.
Giroud is 33 now but he remains almost unique amongst modern forwards. He is a player with power and guile in equal measure, a striker capable of the deftest touches but also of bullying defenders, of acting as a battering ram.
Those traits are clearly what appeals to Lampard. He does not have another forward like that at his disposal, and it became clear when Giroud was in the side that Chelsea’s other attacking players thrived.
Football London
