The Blues striker has been linked heavily with a move back to his home country, but his manager denies that he will leave
Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea will activate a clause to extend Olivier Giroud's contract for another year to keep the France international at the club next season.
The France international scored as he finally started his first league game of 2019 against Brighton, and will hope for more starts, as Sarri signals his intent to keep his frontman.
“Yes, of course. I know the club have an option for another season, so I think he will remain,” Sarri told reporters. "I think so [that he wants to stay]."
Rumours remain rife that Roman Abramovich is losing interest in Chelsea and that is may lead to the sale of the club.
The billionaire has since withdrawn his visa and announced a freeze on redeveloping Stamford Bridge, but Sarri revealed that Abramovich talks directly to his assistant Gianfranco Zola to exert his influence.
“More Zola than me," Sarri said before explaining why. “Because Zola speaks English better than me, of course. He has some problems now, but he is involved with the club, with the team.
“Of course. He is the owner, and so he can influence the technical staff, the club, the players, everything I think. Also in Naples, the president Aurelio [De Laurentiis] wasn't in the training ground every day. He was in the training ground once a month, no more. So it's very similar.”
Lanbdz
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Giroud is and has been the best striker we had since Costa left but he was unfortunate to have managers who did not rate him and his contributions to the team. He had a good combination with Hazard which Conte destroyed and was unlucky to be rated second striker to Morata who was also struggling and hopeless in the premier league. His abilities to be a good target man makes it easier for intelligent players to play off him and his positioning makes is much easier for intelligent wingers like Odoi to put those dangerous crosses in the box knowing he would tuck them away. I am glad he would be staying.