Oliver Giroud does not want to leave Chelsea despite the club’s rumoured interest in Bournemouth ace Callum Wilson.
Chelsea only signed Giroud from Premier League rivals Arsenal at the start of the year but the France international has struggled for regular playing time since then.
New Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri wanted to sign a new striker in the summer casting doubts over Giroud’s future at the club then.
Now the west London outfit are reportedly eyeing Bournemouth striker Wilson following his stunning start to the season.
Gareth Southgate rewarded Wilson’s form with a first senior England call-up and the 25-year-old scored on his debut in a 3-0 win over USA last week.
Talk of a potential switch from Bournemouth will only heap further pressure on Chelsea’s current options, although Giroud insists he is not looking to leave.
“Would I have to consider a departure to keep my place in the national team,” The Daily Mirror quote Giroud as saying. “Today I am calm, happy with this World Cup title. I don’t need to put myself under more pressure than that.
“Of course, I am a competitor and I would like more playing time. But I am in a very big club, with very big players. I am going to fight and for the moment, it is not a question about seeking a departure. I am going to stick in there and do not expect me to give up.”
Giroud has made nine appearances in the Premier League this season but only four of those have been starts. Despite not scoring in that time, the 32-year-old has provided four assists.
In fact, only Southampton left-back Matt Targett (1 every 72 minutes of action) requires fewer minutes per Premier League assist than Giroud (1 every 96 minutes of action) this season.
