Atlético Madrid set sights on signing Olivier Giroud | OneFootball

Olivier Giroud could be set to leave Chelsea just six months after joining the club.

The World Cup winner signed for the Blues in January but new manager Maurizio Sarri isn’t planning to use him and hopes to sign a new striker.

A door has now been opened for Giroud to move to Atlético Madrid, where he is wanted as a replacement for Kevin Gameiro. Valencia are looking to sign Gameiro, who slid down the pecking order at Atlético last season.

Nikola Kalinić had been linked with a move to Madrid to replace Gameiro but widespread reports in Spain say talks with AC Milan have stalled, forcing Atlético to look elsewhere. According to Marca, Kalinić remains Diego Simeone’s preferred target but if no deal can be done, Giroud is the club’s alternative target.

The French striker scored five times for Chelsea last season after his €20m move from Arsenal but has just one year remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge.

If a move was completed, Giroud would play back-up to Diego Costa and France team-mate Antoine Griezmann at the Wanda Metropolitano.