Agent: Giroud swap deals are false

Rumours that Olivier Giroud is part of a potential cash plus player swap deal with Napoli for Gonzalo Higuain are a nonsense, according to his agent. Speaking with Tuttomercatoweb, Michel Manuello said, “Everything I’ve read about Giroud is not true. I’ve only ever said that if Arsenal want to sell him, then we will see.” Furthermore, Manuello said that there had been no contact with Napoli.

Rumours linking Giroud with a move were quite clearly nonsensical. Arsenal need more than one striker, and with Theo Walcott not really suited for the role and Alexis Sánchez not really tested as a centre forward, moving a striker that you can rely upon to score 20 in a season would be quite silly. Arsenal are looking to add to their front line; not make a sideways move.

Giroud’s weaknesses are well known, but are also overplayed to a large extent. He will be good for about a goal every two or three games, and has a superb fitness record. Arsenal plainly need someone who offers something stylistically different, but that does not mean that Arsenal need to sell Giroud, who is 18 goals away from a century of goals for Arsenal. Indeed, selling Giroud would be quite counterproductive.