Unhappy Giroud warns Chelsea he will ditch them just like Arsenal unless he gets game time as Inter eye January transfer
OLIVIER GIROUD has warned Chelsea he will not think twice about leaving unless he gets more game time.
The striker has featured just five times under Frank Lampard this season.
But Tammy Abraham leads the Premier League goal charts with eight strikes.
And Giroud’s chances of breaking into the starting XI look slim.
The French World Cup winner, 33, recently claimed he “does not accept” his back-up role at Stamford Bridge.
And after already being linked with MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps, Giroud could yet have the chance to salvage his European career at Inter Milan.
And after scoring his 38th international goal against Turkey on Monday, Giroud admitted history could repeat itself if his current circumstances remain the same.
Giroud said: “I’m going to fight for my place at Chelsea and we will take stock of the situation in January.
“If you ask me whether I want to leave I’ll say ‘not necessarily’ – but other things enter the equation.
“I cannot be happy with what I have at the moment. I am 33 but I still have several good years left in me.
“I still have the legs and a profile that I think will enable me to keep playing at the top level.
“I feel in good shape physically and I lead a healthy lifestyle. I want to enjoy myself and play matches.
“That could be for Chelsea – who are my first choice – or elsewhere.
“But if they force me to make a decision I will do it – just like when I left Arsenal.”
Giroud isn’t the only Chelsea striker considering his future, with Michy Batshuayi wanted by Crystal Palace.
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Belgium boss Roberto Martinez has implored him to quit Stamford Bridge, saying: “He doesn’t play enough at Chelsea.
“I think that’s a shame, even though he scores a lot with the national team.
“I hope he will play more because we really need him. But then he has to play. Otherwise a solution must be found.”