West Ham United’s Premier League rivals Crystal Palace have entered the race for reported Hammers transfer target Olivier Giroud, according to Claret & Hugh.
The reliable Irons news source claims that Manuel Pellegrini’s side will likely have competition for the Chelsea striker in January if they do make a move for him.
Football Insider reported earlier this month that West Ham want the Frenchman in the winter transfer window, but Palace boss Roy Hodgson is understood by Claret & Hugh to also be keen on the World Cup winner.
The former Arsenal star is said to have rejected the Hammers in the past, throwing in doubt his mooted switch to the London Stadium. Hodgson is thought to have long had an eye on the 33-year-old.
OPINION
So what? Really, is a 33-year-old striker what West Ham need at the moment? The club is in turmoil, and handing big contracts to past-their-best players isn’t going to fix things. Giroud is a useful player, no doubt, and was once one of the top strikers in the Premier League, but he is no longer a world class frontman. Indeed, he’s no better than Sebastien Haller, and would only impede his countryman’s progress, not help it. The problem that the Hammers have at this moment in time is that they aren’t getting enough support to Haller or creating enough opportunities for him to hit the back of the net with regularity, as he was at the start of the season. The east London outfit should be looking at a quicker, more intelligent number nine to play alongside Haller at the tip of the West Ham attack, not somebody who is essentially just an older version of the former Eintracht Frankfurt star. Luka Jovic excelled alongside Haller last time out, it’s somebody like that they should be looking for. Indeed, Michy Batshuayi would be a better Chelsea addition than Giroud.