Giroud set for crunch talks with Chelsea as Marseille wait
The Blues frontman's future is in doubt, despite only signing for his current club in January, with the French giants waiting in the wings
Olivier Giroud is set for talks with Chelsea next week upon his arrival back to Cobham Training Centre, with his future still in the balance, Goal understands.
Marseille are waiting on the outcome of the discussions, with the ambitious French side poised to make a move.
The World Cup-winning striker remains on holiday but he is due back on Monday and will speak to the club ahead of the transfer window closure on August 9.
OM have expressed an interest in signing Giroud, who has a year left on his Chelsea contract, after signing an 18-month deal in January. However, the club does have a clause with the option to extend the contract for another season.
New boss Maurizio Sarri could be ready to sanction a move for Giroud, with Michy Batshuayi and Tammy Abraham ranking among their returning high-value strikers who were on loan last season.
Former manager Antonio Conte was a huge fan of Giroud, opting to use him ahead of Alvaro Morata to the end of last season, but he could be the first player to lose out over the summer's managerial switch.
Morata, meanwhile, remains likely to stay, despite having had interest from both Milan clubs and Juventus in this transfer window.
Chelsea had explored the possibility of signing Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain, who Sarri held a keen interest in reuniting with after working well with him at Napoli, but AC Milan have enterred an advanced stage of talks with the frontman.
It was Roma who once again came out victorious against Ernesto Valverde's Barça. This time at least it didn't hurt as much because it came during preseason. The positive to take from the result is that when Barcelona had their senior players out on the pitch, they were far superior to Roma.
Unlike against Tottenham, where their English opponents pushed the pace, Roma were more content to sit back and look to strike on the counterattack. Barcelona were almost ahead in the first few minutes as new boys Lenglet and Malcom linked up well before Munir headed the latter's cross just wide. A warning side for the Italians but one they didn't react to.Sergi Roberto played a nice ball to Malcom, in space, who skillfully knocked it down for Rafinha on the edge of the box.
The Brazilian played a nice one-two with Munir before powering it past the Roma's new keeper Olsen. We were only six minutes in but you sensed this could turn into a cricket score if the Italians didn't respond. Thankfully, for their fans, they did.Malcom almost made it 2-0 but Roma were soon on level terms.
A familiar name to Barcelona fans, Kluivert, was the architect. Justin, Barça legend Patrick's son, burst down the right-hand side before pulling it back for El Shaarawy to even things up.The game began to heat up as tough tackles came in from most sides, although largely from Roma. Friendly? What friendly?
Valverde didn't make as many changes as he did against Tottenham and, as if the game needed further spice, it was Malcom who would get on the scoresheet next. Academy player Ballou Tabla didn't give up on the ball in the penalty area and fizzed it across goal to the other wing where Malcom slotted home to put Barça ahead once again.After that goal, Valverde made more changes and was now fielding a largely Barça B side.
Roma were on level terms through Florenzi after a series of errors from the young Barcelona team. Five minutes later and the Italians had completed their comeback. Cristante found a bit of space in the box and made it 3-2, although Cillessen should've done better. And three minutes after that it was 4-2 when Cuenca, who didn't have his best night, gave away a penalty which Perotti converted.
Barcelona are looking for possible midfielders to incorporate this summer, and although Adrien Rabiot continues to make the headlines, Eric Abidal is tracking other options...including Manchester United's Paul Pogba.
The pair met in Los Angeles, taking advantage of Barcelona's tour of the United States.
Italian newspaper Tuttosport have suggested that Pogba would be interested in the switch and he footballer, currently enjoying his holidays, met with Abidal in a private villa.
Any deal would, however, have to exceed 105 million euros that United paid to Juve - by a distance.
All these rumours are more relevant after the words of Ernesto Valverde four days ago.
The coach didn't hide the need to sign a midfielder that fits the Barcelona style.
Olivier Giroud is set for talks with Chelsea next week upon his arrival back to Cobham Training Centre, with his future still in the balance, Goal understands.
Marseille are waiting on the outcome of the discussions, with the ambitious French side poised to make a move.
The World Cup-winning striker remains on holiday but he is due back on Monday and will speak to the club ahead of the transfer window closure on August 9.
OM have expressed an interest in signing Giroud, who has a year left on his Chelsea contract, after signing an 18-month deal in January. However, the club does have a clause with the option to extend the contract for another season.
New boss Maurizio Sarri could be ready to sanction a move for Giroud, with Michy Batshuayi and Tammy Abraham ranking among their returning high-value strikers who were on loan last season.
Former manager Antonio Conte was a huge fan of Giroud, opting to use him ahead of Alvaro Morata to the end of last season, but he could be the first player to lose out over the summer's managerial switch.
Morata, meanwhile, remains likely to stay, despite having had interest from both Milan clubs and Juventus in this transfer window.
Chelsea had explored the possibility of signing Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain, who Sarri held a keen interest in reuniting with after working well with him at Napoli, but AC Milan have enterred an advanced stage of talks with the frontman.
It was Roma who once again came out victorious against Ernesto Valverde's Barça. This time at least it didn't hurt as much because it came during preseason. The positive to take from the result is that when Barcelona had their senior players out on the pitch, they were far superior to Roma.
Unlike against Tottenham, where their English opponents pushed the pace, Roma were more content to sit back and look to strike on the counterattack. Barcelona were almost ahead in the first few minutes as new boys Lenglet and Malcom linked up well before Munir headed the latter's cross just wide. A warning side for the Italians but one they didn't react to.Sergi Roberto played a nice ball to Malcom, in space, who skillfully knocked it down for Rafinha on the edge of the box.
The Brazilian played a nice one-two with Munir before powering it past the Roma's new keeper Olsen. We were only six minutes in but you sensed this could turn into a cricket score if the Italians didn't respond. Thankfully, for their fans, they did.Malcom almost made it 2-0 but Roma were soon on level terms.
A familiar name to Barcelona fans, Kluivert, was the architect. Justin, Barça legend Patrick's son, burst down the right-hand side before pulling it back for El Shaarawy to even things up.The game began to heat up as tough tackles came in from most sides, although largely from Roma. Friendly? What friendly?
Valverde didn't make as many changes as he did against Tottenham and, as if the game needed further spice, it was Malcom who would get on the scoresheet next. Academy player Ballou Tabla didn't give up on the ball in the penalty area and fizzed it across goal to the other wing where Malcom slotted home to put Barça ahead once again.After that goal, Valverde made more changes and was now fielding a largely Barça B side.
Roma were on level terms through Florenzi after a series of errors from the young Barcelona team. Five minutes later and the Italians had completed their comeback. Cristante found a bit of space in the box and made it 3-2, although Cillessen should've done better. And three minutes after that it was 4-2 when Cuenca, who didn't have his best night, gave away a penalty which Perotti converted.
Barcelona are looking for possible midfielders to incorporate this summer, and although Adrien Rabiot continues to make the headlines, Eric Abidal is tracking other options...including Manchester United's Paul Pogba.
The pair met in Los Angeles, taking advantage of Barcelona's tour of the United States.
Italian newspaper Tuttosport have suggested that Pogba would be interested in the switch and he footballer, currently enjoying his holidays, met with Abidal in a private villa.
Any deal would, however, have to exceed 105 million euros that United paid to Juve - by a distance.
All these rumours are more relevant after the words of Ernesto Valverde four days ago.
The coach didn't hide the need to sign a midfielder that fits the Barcelona style.
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