Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas seems resigned to the fact that he will be unable to sign Olivier Giroud this summer.

The 30-year-old French forward has been linked with a return to Ligue 1 in recent months, amid suggestions that his first-team opportunities are under threat with the club’s pursuit of Alexandre Lacazette continuing to intensify.

Marseille and Lyon were the two main suitors interested in Giroud’s services, though the latter’s most recent acquisition in Chelsea’s Bertrand Traore suggests they’re looking towards other targets.

When questioned about their reported pursuit of Giroud, Aulas was quoted as saying, “I think that today Olivier wants to stay at Arsenal, especially [because of] Arsène Wenger.

“If there are arrivals, maybe he will want to return to France.”

Giroud himself has previously admitted that he could consider his long-term future if Arsenal do sign new forwards this summer, however he seems to think that Lacazette will not offer the same sort of threat to his place.

West Ham are one of the Premier League sides that have been linked with an approach for the Frenchman (Everton the other), though it’s unlikely he’d want to stay in England if it becomes clear that his place at Arsenal is no more than that of impact sub.

Aulas’s comments make it seem as though they’ll keep Giroud in mind, buut will continue to target other players with the hope of strengthening their side this summer.