Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has killed insider talk that West Ham United could sign Olivier Giroud in January.
Insider explains West Ham’s mystery absence, makes claim about future
West Ham have been consistently linked with a move for Giroud over the last year.
And recent reports from West Ham insiders Claret and Hugh claimed the Hammers are serious about a short-term deal for the Chelsea striker when the window opens in just over a month.
Reports claim Moyes wants Giroud
David Moyes wants another centre-forward when the transfer window opens after failing to land Josh King in the summer window.
Giroud’s agent looked to have made a January move a whole lot easier last week.
Michael Manuello appeared to grease the wheels for Giroud’s departure by publicly slamming Blues boss Frank Lampard over his client’s lack of game time.
Speaking to Foot Mercato, Manuello questioned Lampard’s decision to put Tammy Abraham ahead of his client in the pecking order at Chelsea.
Striker’s agent looked to have greased the wheels with comments but Lampard kills any Hammers hopes
But former West Ham star Lampard has dealt a fatal blow to any hopes Moyes might have of signing Giroud by insisting he will stay and play (BT Sport).
It comes after Giroud scored the winner for Chelsea in a 2-1 Champions League victory over Rennes in midweek.
“Oli will get his minutes because we have a busy schedule, we play every few days,” Lampard told BT Sport.
“I made a few changes today because I felt he had to get the freshness in the team.
“I think the reason you see such a reaction around the goal, not only was it in the last minute but someone like Oli you see how he acts day in, day out and it shows you what he means to this team.
“He’s getting better with age if anything in terms of how he looks after himself.
‘He offers a lot and I will rely on players’
“So he offers a lot for us and I keep saying it but the big schedule coming up and the way we play means I will rely on players.
“So thankfully for me he’s a player that always keeps the right attitude if he’s not playing regularly, and I know when I call upon him that he comes in as he did today.”
The West Ham target had featured just six times for Chelsea across all competitions this season before that game.
At 34, Giroud does not particularly fit Moyes’s stated aims to build a young, hungry, energetic side.
But he has also made it clear experience is important in certain areas of the pitch.
It seems any hopes West Ham had of luring Giroud with the carrot of more game time ahead of next summer’s Euros are dead in the water, though.
West Ham chances of Villa victory get serious triple boost
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
