For those that criticised France international Olivier Giroud during this summer’s World Cup, I’m pretty sure he got the last laugh when he picked up his winner’s medal in Moscow.

In fairness, I think the experienced French striker had a fine tournament. I know he didn’t score but there’s more to Giroud’s game than just getting goals.

His link-up play in the build up, ability to hold the ball up and physical presence gave his team something different. He gave Les Bleus all he had and he was able to give them a focal point that allowed to get the best out of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.

French coach Didier Deschamps started with a fluid front trio of Griezmann, Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele against Australia in their opening World Cup encounter and quite simply it didn’t really work. The three just seemed disjointed and the team didn’t have target or leader to aim for in the final third.

Deschamps highlighted the thirty-one year old’s importance to the team during the tournament by saying:

“He might not have the flamboyant style of other players but the team needs him in each and every match because even if he does not score, he does many things for us.”

Plus he may not have scored this summer but Olivier does have a healthy goal record for his nation having scored thirty-one times in eighty-one caps. Only Thierry Henry, Michel Platini and David Trezeguet have scored more.

When Giroud returns to Chelsea after his deserved extended holiday, it’s believed that the forward will be told by new boss Maurizio Sarri that he’s no longer needed at Stamford Bridge.

The Frenchman only joined the Blues in January and his five goals in eighteen appearances helped the side claim the FA Cup back in May.

Yet his arrival was more influential in the fact that his link-up play with Eden Hazard allowed the Belgian to return to top form and play in the areas that makes Hazard brilliant. Former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte had used Eden as a false number nine at times last term and the playmaker clearly didn’t enjoy the role. Having Giroud up there to play off of allowed Hzard to flourish as he had done with Diego Costa previously.

What could be Chelsea’s loss if they sell Giroud, could ultimately be someone else’s gain.

Atletico Madrid have been linked with a summer move to tall striker and Everton have known to be lost time admirers of the World Cup winner.

Personally, I think he could be the type of player that could help Merseyside giants Liverpool win a major title next season.

Obviously The Reds have a fantastic front three in Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino who were on fire last term. But beyond that, Liverpool look to be missing a Plan B.

Daniel Sturridge has returned from a disappointing loan spell at West Bromwich Albion. While Liverpool gaffer Jurgen Klopp has been complimentary about the English forward recently, after impressing in preseason, but in truth Daniel can’t be relied upon due to his injury record. He’s only played in twenty Premier League games once in the last four years.

Youngster Dominic Solanke is the forward in the squad that offers more physicality up-top but the forward is still raw. The young international only scored once in his debut season for the Reds and it might be better for him to gain more experience by going out on loan and playing more regularly during the next campaign.

Former Burnley man Danny Ings is another Liverpool that has seen his career stalled because of injury issues. It has been widely reported that hitman will be allowed to leave if the right offer comes in during this window.

Divock Origi is another inconsistent performer that The Reds currently have within their ranks. The Belgian hitman has been linked with a summer move to Valencia.

In Giroud, Klopp would be getting a player with plenty Premier League experience and one that would be able to help the likes of Sane, Firmino and Salah to continue to flourish. He’d give opponents physical problems to deal with, an aerial threat in the final third and produce lay offs that would allow the other forwards to arrive into the box and receive the ball in dangerous positions.

He’ll also give the team goals, having scored 76 goals in 193 English top flight appearances. Plus he has the right attitude and his happy go lucky demeanour seems to make him a favourite with teammates.

I’m sure Olivier Giroud wouldn’t be as exciting a signing as Alisson or Naby Keita but he’d still give Liverpool a different option and the ability to change games and you need that type of squad player when you are challenging for league or European titles.

Posted on July 25th, 2018 by scott
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