Giroud wanted by Juventus

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is being lined up as a potential transfer target for Juventus, according to reports in Italy.

Calciomercato is reporting that Italian champions Juventus are considering a move for Arsenal’s French striker Olivier Giroud.

Giroud has found game time hard to come by so far this season, with Alexis Sanches currently preferred in the central attacking role, and rumours are beginning to circulate about the former Montpellier striker.

Giroud featured for France at the UEFA European Championship in the summer, and scored three goals to help Les Bleus reach the final of the competition on home solid, before eventually losing to surprise winners Portugal.

The 30-year-old netted a respectable tally of 24 goals last term – his highest return since joining the Gunners in 2012 – but a mid-season barren spell of 12 games led for calls for him to be replaced, with many fans hoping that manager Arsene Wenger would dip into the transfer market to buy a top class striker in the summer.

The North Londoners were linked to moves for Gonzalo Higuain – with rumours suggesting that Arsenal had offered Napoli Giroud plus cash for the Argentinian – but he ended up signing for Juventus for €90 milion.

They were also linked with a big money move for Lyon marksman Alexandre Lacazette, but the French Club were demanding in excess of €60 million for the 26-year-old.

Wenger signed Spanish forward Lucas Perez late in the window, and with Sanchez now leading the line, Giroud could be surplus to requirements.