Giroud ‘sits down with Lyon’ for talks over free transfer from Chelsea at end of season
Former Arsenal forward, 32, could leave Stamford Bridge when his contract expires at the end of the season
CHELSEA star Olivier Giroud has held transfer talks with Lyon, according to reports.
The Ligue 1 side are looking to lure the 32-year-old back to France this summer on a free transfer as he fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge.
According to Le Parisien, Lyon club president Jean-Michel Aulas met up with Giroud to discuss the deal.
His Stamford Bridge contract expires at the end of the season, but Chelsea can extend the deal for a further 12 months.
If Maurizio Sarri's side tie him down, the French club would have to file an offer of around £13m to sign him this summer.
And the former Arsenal striker would have to take a pay cut on his £85,000-per-week wages if he decides to join Lyon.
Giroud is the top scorer in the Europa League with nine goals this season, but he found himself stuck on the sidelines in the Premier League.
When quizzed about the transfer speculation, he said: "The French media have made too much of some comments from me trying to push me into a move to Lyon.
"I am staying objective, and if I can stay at Chelsea I will be happy - but I need to play more.
"For now we have a very big game against Cardiff now at the weekend.
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"There are only eight matches to go, and going for the Champions League places we will be trying to win all of them."
Giroud was most recently in action for France during the 4-0 win over Iceland in the Euro 2020 qualifiers.
The striker scored his 35th goal for the World Cup winners to put him third in Les Bleus' all-time top goalscorer list.