Where next for Giroud?

Olivier Giroud will leave Chelsea in January, that seems almost certain, but where next for the World Cup-winning striker? Giroud scored France’s winner from the penalty spot on Thursday night as the world champions just about overcame minnows Moldova 2-1 to book a place at Euro 2020.
The 33-year-old has now scored in three consecutive games for his country but he just cannot get any game-time at Chelsea and if he wants to ensure he is in the French squad for the tournament proper next summer he needs to move on in January.
Giroud has managed just four Premier League appearances for the Blues this term and only one of those has been as a member of the starting XI. The forward also played in the UEFA Super Cup and has one appearance in the Champions League, again as a sub, taking his number of appearances for the season to a modest six.
Reports claim Chelsea have set an asking price of just £5million for the former Arsenal and Montpellier man, a bargain considering his goalscoring pedigree even if he is out of contract at the end of the season.
Here is a rundown of a few of the key contenders for his signature at the moment – although there could be a few more names in the frame by the time January rolls around.
A reunion with Antonio Conte at Inter Milan
Antonio Conte was the man who signed Giroud for Chelsea midway through the 2017-18 season and apparently he wants to work with the frontman again at new club Inter Milan.
Giroud has never played in Italy but it could well be a league that suits his style but he would probably have to accept a role as back-up to marquee summer buy Romelu Lukaku, and for that reason a switch to the Nerazzurri may not be the wisest move at this juncture in his career.
Borussia Dortmund in the mix
German giants Borussia Dortmund have entered the battle for Giroud, according to The Mirror, and the striker may well fancy a stint in the Bundesliga – but BVB might not be the best fit.
Dortmund tend to play with one centre-forward and two wide men/supporting attackers and that leaves just one place in their first XI for Giroud to fight for. With Mario Gotze and Paco Alcacer already at the Westfalenstadion, he could be left kicking his heels yet again and for the same reasons he should snub Inter he should think twice before making the move to BVB.
Sticking in the Premier League with Palace
Crystal Palace have been linked at regular intervals and this seems a good fit. Almost too good in fact. They need a goalscorer, Giroud is a goalscorer and he wouldn’t even have to move house.
A return to France
Pretty much every club in France’s Ligue 1 has been linked with Giroud at some stage or another, barring Paris Saint-Germain, and if he were to return to his homeland he should be able to get plenty of game-time.
Marseille look like the frontrunners in Ligue 1, while Lyon’s name keeps cropping up too.
An MLS move or a lucrative switch to China have also been suggested but that may have to wait until the season is over, as Giroud will be keen to remain in Europe ahead of Euro 2020 unless he gets some assurances from Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps.