Frank Lampard open to departure of Chelsea star

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has acknowledged that Olivier Giroud could head through the exit door this month, provided a few necessary conditions are met.

The Frenchman has barely featured for the Blues in the past few months and he was an unused substitute during the club's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest over the weekend.

Speaking after the game, Lampard refused to rule out Giroud's departure from the club and hinted that the striker's future will be decided based on a few conditions.

"If the conditions are that it's something Oli really wants to do and it works for the club and it works for me and the squad, then it's something that could happen, but only when all three of those bases are covered. So we're still there," he told.

Giroud has been linked with a loan move to Newcastle United of late while Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan are some of the European sides willing to offer him with a permanent deal.

His national team spot has been secure over the past few years with France but he is said to be worried about the fact that the lack of first-team football with Chelsea could see him dropped ahead of Euro 2020.