West Ham are ready to break their club transfer record in order to acquire the services of want away Arsenal star Olivier Giroud, say reporters of The Telegraph (via Bleacher Report).
The Hammers are reportedly open to offering Arsenal £20 million for the Frenchman, as well as “marginally exceeding” his current wage packet of £120,00.
Should the proposed move go ahead, Giroud could become West Ham’s joint record transfer, alongside Andre Ayew who signed from Swansea for the same fee last summer, and in turn also become the club’s highest paid player.
However Arsenal are not keen to let the player go until their own transfer plans come to fruition. Arsene Wenger is targeting fellow Frenchmen Alexandre Lacazette and Kylian Mbappe from Lyon and AS Monaco respectively as he looks to strength his attacking options ahead of the new season.
Should he be successful in his pursuit of either player, it is understood Giroud would be free to leave the Emirates.
West Ham would face competition from Lyon themselves for Giroud, however reports suggest the former Montpellier man would prefer to remain in London.
