Lampard insists he has ‘plans’ for Chelsea outcast Giroud

Will Ford

Frank Lampard insists he wants Olivier Giroud to stay at Chelsea and has assured the striker he remains an “important” part of his squad.

Giroud has admitted he is concerned that his lack of game time – just 36 minutes in the Premier League so far this season – will hamper his chances of playing for France at next year’s European Championship.


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And France boss Didier Deschamps has urged the striker to move away from Stamford Bridge in January. Back to Arsenal, perhaps?

But Lampard said: “I do have plans for Oli, he is very important in our squad.

“He was very important last year, he played a lot of games and made a lot of starts. He’ll always want to play more but he’s a huge member of the squad for me.

“I know he will be important for us going forward, so I want Oli to be here and to stay.

“I have a very good relationship with Oli and if ever he felt that it was going to go a different way then I would happily have that conversation with him.

“But I want him to stay here. I’m open both ways if that ever changes but at the moment he is very important for us.”