AC Milan do not want to pay for Olivier Giroud – but it looks like they will have to | OneFootball

There’s a funny article in the Evening Standard today where James Robson reports on Olivier Giroud’s situation.

For the second year in a row the forward has appeared to be on the verge of leaving as a free agent, only to have his deal extended by the club using their option at the last minute.

Robson reports that the number one interested party is AC Milan, but that they “do not want to pay a fee.”

Well, we’re sure they don’t. But why would Chelsea have triggered that option if not to prevent Giroud going for nothing?

We understand there may be a gentleman’s agreement between the club and the player that they will let him go to a club outside the Premier League for very little, and perhaps that’s the reason for the extension.

But if Chelsea can get any money for him (and there’s no reason they wouldn’t), they will certainly take the money that’s offered to them.