Respected French publication, L’Equipe, are today claiming that Olivier Giroud is no longer in Arsene Wenger’s plans ahead of the new season.

  • West Ham are leading the race to sign Arsenal’s underrated Frenchman
  • Arsenal will not try to use Giroud to land Lacazette
  • Giroud is under contract with Arsenal until 2019 after signing a new deal in January

In an article about Alexandre Lacazette, the publication says, “Today [Arsenal] is the most advanced club on the record [for his signature].

“After not always working in a consistent way last summer, on a transfer of the French international, Arsenal returned to the load in a concrete way.

“At the same time, OL is interested in Olivier Giroud (30 years, 2019), who no longer really falls into the plans of Arsène Wenger, the French manager of the Gunners.

“But the tricolor striker does not see himself returning to France, and the possibility of an operation that would concern the two players was not mentioned.”

So basically, Giroud doesn’t want to return to France, but Arsenal don’t want him and Arsenal messed around trying to sign Lacazette last summer but are back in a big way this year.

This could explain why West Ham see to be determined to do whatever it takes to land Giroud – they know he wants to remain in the Premier League, preferably in London.

L’Equipe also state that Giroud has not been mentioned in any sort of swap deal to sign Lacazette despite reports to the contrary in the press.