Arsenal are prepared to use Olivier Giroud as a makeweight in any deal to sign Kylian Mbappé or Alexandre Lacazette, accordning to London Standard.
Manager Arsene Wenger has publicly declared he would like to keep the 30-year-old but the club’s pursuit of a big-name striker this summer is a clear indication Giroud is viewed as inadequate for the challenges that lie ahead.
The Frenchman started just 11 Premier League matches last season as Alexis Sanchez assumed the centre-forward position before Danny Welbeck returned from injury to become Wenger’s first-choice, starting last month’s FA Cup Final victory over Chelsea.
Arsenal have already had an informal £87 million bid for Mbappé rejected by Monaco — although the Gunners officially deny any offer — and are considering whether to make another attempt now France have concluded their summer fixtures.
Although Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea among a host of other top clubs are closely monitoring Mbappé’s situation, it is understood Wenger believes his relationship with the player gives Arsenal a live chance of pulling off a stunning coup.
The fee is likely to top £100m and although that is towards the upper limit of the Gunners’ budget, Wenger can balance the books by offloading a number of other players and offering Giroud in a part-exchange deal.
The Standard claims using Giroud in this way has been discussed as a possible strategy to help secure Mbappé or Lacazette, for whom Arsenal have been quoted a fee of about £60m.
Giroud would prefer to stay with the Gunners but is mindful his place in France’s starting line-up for France would be compromised by another season with limited opportunities at club level.
Should Arsenal sign Lacazette, it is believed Giroud would welcome the competition given he is currently ahead of the Lyon forward in France’s pecking order.
Mbappé is a different matter, however, given he would command a world-record fee and England witnessed first-hand in Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat at the Stade de France just what an exciting prospect the 18-year-old is.
Central to any move for Mbappé is Wenger’s assurance that he would be given star status at Emirates Stadium, playing in his preferred centre-forward position with Sanchez and Mesut Ozil in support — and landing him could convince Sanchez and Ozil, who have a year left on their contracts, to stay and sign new deals.
Whether Giroud would be prepared to join Monaco or Lyon is another matter. It is understood a move to Marseille could appeal and the club expressed an interest in a £20m move towards the end of last season. Lyon are thought to be open to signing Giroud but could have an issue matching his £100,000-a-week wage demands.
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