adminGiroud, who was the top scorer last year in France’s La Ligue, is currently in Ukraine with Laurent Blanc’s France squad but the official completion of a deal is now extremely close both with Montpellier and the player.
Telegraph Sport revealed in April that Arsene Wenger had asked for regular scouting reports on Giroud and, having followed that interest up with a formal bid, it is understood that the two clubs are now completing the paperwork on the deal.
Barring any unexpected late hitches, Giroud will become an Arsenal player.
Gunners boss Wenger, who is covering Euro 2012 for French TV, will see Giroud at close quarters in the coming days.
However, while he went public midway through last season with his admiration for the Montpellier striker and the way he has developed at the club who have since become French champions, Wenger does not see Giroud as a replacement for Robin van Persie.
Arsenal have already signed Lukas Podolski and believe they can get Rennes and France midfielder Yann M’Vila, but do not want to pay the £17m asking price.
However, they face a battle to keep Van Persie, who is being pursued by Juventus and Manchester City.
Italian champions Juve are believed to be trying to lure Van Persie to Serie A with a £180 000-a-week contract.
According to the Italian media, Juventus legend Pavel Nedved is being used to try to sell the club to Van Persie, who has been offered a new deal by Arsenal.
Arsenal have already signed Germany striker Podolski for £11,9 million this summer, with the arrival of another leading striker certain to intensify scrutiny over the future of Robin van Persie.
Arsenal, though, remain determined to keep Van Persie and regard the arrivals of Podolski and Giroud as key to persuading their captain to extend his contract.
Podolski is most likely to play to the left of an attacking three, while Giroud will be regarded as crucial back-up to Van Persie, especially as the Dutch forward can only be held at the club until the completion of his contract next year.
What Giroud’s arrival would underline, however, is that Wenger is determined to overhaul his strikers this summer and the club will listen to offers for Marouane
Chamakh, Nicklas Bendtner, Carlos Vela and Ju-Young Park.
Vela and Bendtner have finished loan spells at Real Sociedad and Sunderland respectively, while Chamakh and Park were conspicuous last season by their collective lack of impact in support of Van Persie. Between them, they scored just two goals.
At 6ft 3 ins tall and around 14 stone, Giroud would certainly provide a powerful physical presence and a different sort of option to Van Persie.
The 25 year-old was central to Montpellier’s unexpected success in winning the French league, scoring 21 goals. Giroud scored his first international goal in the 2-1 win over Germany at the end of February and is in the France squad. — The Telegraph.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter