Lazio sporting director confirm club made an attempt to sign Giroud

Lazio sporting director Igli Tare has confirmed that the club failed with an attempt to sign Olivier Giroud during the last transfer window. The France international was fancied to leave the Blues at the midway stage of the campaign due to the lack of first-team football but he eventually stayed put with the west London giants.

Tare has now confirmed that Lazio had made an approach to sign the former Arsenal man but the Frenchman was content to stay put in the English capital, he told: “I didn't hide it then and I won't now, in the last days of the window we did all we could to bring Giroud to Rome. It would've been a great purchase. I got to know him, it was a nice meeting in which I met a great person, a professional with enormous motivation. But his priority was staying in London where his family has lived for years.”

Giroud has struggled for playing time in the Premier League this term and he has made only nine appearances. However, four of those came before the coronavirus shutdown where he benefited from the injury setback for regular striker Tammy Abraham. The Frenchman made the most of the opportunity by scoring a couple of goals but he is likely to drop to the bench when the season resumes, considering Abraham has overcome his ankle and hamstring concerns.
The capital outfit recently confirmed that they have extended the contract of Giroud until June 2021. Despite the renewal, they are deemed to be eyeing a new striker in the transfer market with manager Frank Lampard wanting better competition upfront. Michy Batshuayi, who is the other centre-forward option in the squad, has been tipped to head through the exit door when the transfer window reopens at the end of the season.