Barcelona line up shock transfer for Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud if they fail to land Rodrigo
BARCELONA are seeking a replacement for Luis Suarez and the surprise name of Olivier Giroud has popped up in Spanish reports.
With the Uruguayan star out for four months after knee surgery, attempts to bring in a fresh face are ramping up.
Among the players touted as a more long-term option are Valencia striker Rodrigo Moreno and Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
But now Giroud has entered the Blaugrana radar, according to .
A January signing is seen as essential and yet Barcelona's huge wage bill is unlikely to allow a mega signing.
Therefore a loan deal with the option to buy is said to be preferred.
And Giroud is a prime option to leave Chelsea after Frank Lampard relegated him to third-choice striker, with Inter Milan and Aston Villa also sniffing around.
The 33-year-old would come with relatively chunky wages, earning £110,000-a-week at Stamford Bridge, but is also out of contract in the summer.
Many at the Camp Nou might see Giroud as an underwhelming signing but the Frenchman is regularly lauded by teammates for his link-up play, which would potentially suit Lionel Messi and Co.
Eden Hazard dubbed him the "the best [target man] in the world" while at Chelsea and he played in every game of France's World Cup win in 2018 - albeit while failing to score.
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Mundo Deportivo expect Giroud to be second choice for the Catalans, however.
Spain international Rodrigo is no doubt the more in-form option with LaLiga experience, but Valencia want £50million for the 28-year-old.
That figure is reportedly pushing Barcelona towards the Giroud loan option, with Suarez injured and new coach Quique Setien on a remit of collecting multiple trophies this season, it could be a seller's market.
