Frank Lampard updates on Olivier Giroud's future

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has said that Olivier Giroud is expected to remain with the club after the club could not find a suitable replacement in the transfer market.

The west London side were eyeing a deal for Dries Mertens earlier in the week but the move has failed to materialise due to Napoli's hefty £25m price tag for the Belgian whose contract expires in the summer.

As a result, Giroud's plans of moving to the Serie A have diminished and speaking in Friday's press conference, Lampard confirmed that the Frenchman will be staying put for the season at the least.

"Olivier Giroud in this window has been incredible as a professional and as a man. We all know that there’s been interest and I’ve sat in every press conference and said it had to be right for Olivier, for myself and for the club. Will he leave? No," he told.

The Blues were fancied to strengthen the attacking department during the January transfer window after successfully appealing against their season-long transfer ban in December.

That has, however, not been the case and Lampard has confirmed that the Europa League holders are highly unlikely to sign anyone before the transfer window closes at 11pm tonight.