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Giroud will NOT be allowed to leave Chelsea unless they recruit a forward (Mail)

  /  autty

Olivier Giroud will not be allowed to leave Chelsea unless the club are able to recruit a forward on deadline day, with the Frenchman rejecting Newcastle's second enquiry.

Sportsmail understands that Frank Lampard has informed the 33-year-old that a move away is currently on hold as Chelsea attempt to sign a new forward.

But with the Blues struggling to recruit, Giroud now appears set to remain at Stamford Bridge.

It is believed that Newcastle's bid to sign Giroud was rebuffed by the player, with boss Steve Bruce now likely to end the month without bolstering his attacking options.

Giroud has also attracted interest from Tottenham, Lazio, Inter Milan and West Ham.

And according to Sky Italia, the World Cup winner has grown frustrated with a lack of playing time and is prepared to boycott training on Friday to seal his departure.

However, after Tammy Abraham's injury, Chelsea are less inclined to let the target man leave, especially considering the club's struggle to snap up a potential replacement.

Giroud had reportedly agreed a three-and-a-half year deal with Serie A outfit Lazio, but has yet to sign the contract amid concerns over sufficient first-team opportunities.

Inter Milan are also thought to be open to re-entering the race for the French star, despite having ended any interest in the striker earlier this month, and Tottenham have also been linked with an audacious swoop.

Jose Mourinho wants to recruit a physical frontman after Harry Kane's hamstring injury.

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