France boss Didier Deschamps has suggested that Olivier Giroud should look to leave Chelsea in January.
Giroud scored his country’s winner in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Turkey on Monday night – his third goal in four matches for France.
He also scored the winner against Iceland on Friday, underlining his continued importance to the national team.
But with Tammy Abraham firmly establishing himself as Chelsea’s first-choice striker, Giroud’s first-team chances at Stamford Bridge continue to be limited.
And his prospects are unlikely to improve given that Michy Batshuayi is also pushing for a place, not to mention the fact that the eventual end of Chelsea’s transfer ban will enable the club to bring in new faces.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has insisted that Giroud has a role to play at the Bridge – and he surely won’t be inclined to let the former Arsenal man go unless an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport leads to the transfer ban being lifted in January rather than at the end of the season.
But Deschamps is in no doubt that Giroud’s lack of game time for his club is a problem.
“Olivier suffers because of his situation. Before January, nothing will move,” Deschamps said, as reported by Sky Sports.
“After, it will be up to him to see. I hope he will have more playing time.
“But we cannot take away his goals, his good performances. He scores, he makes others play well.
“He knows he is under pressure, but he always responds.”