Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 6y

Olivier Giroud's agent to push Arsene Wenger for January exit from Arsenal

Olivier Giroud's agent will attempt to convince Arsene Wenger to allow the striker to leave Arsenal in January if the right offer comes along.

Giroud, 31, has started just one Premier League game this season -- last week's goalless draw at West Ham -- after being confined to a cameo role at Arsenal following the summer's arrival of Alexandre Lacazette.

Giroud has seen his new club teammate step ahead of him in the pecking order at international level too, leading France boss Didier Deschamps' assistant, Guy Stephan, to suggest January could provide an opportunity to leave the Emirates Stadium and secure more playing time.

Wenger has said he is unwilling to weaken his squad, even if it could cost Giroud a place at next summer's World Cup, though the striker's agent, Michael Manuello, told footmercato.net he will attempt to change the Arsenal boss' attitude if the right opportunity comes along for his client. 

"There will be approaches," Manuello said. "All those clubs looking for a striker are likely to come in for him. We have to be careful, and if there is something clear that presents itself, we'll try to convince Arsene to go back on what he said.

"[Wenger's attitude] can make things complicated. But a conflict, that's not the kind of thing that's in Olivier's nature, nor in mine. We always work in harmony. It's normal Arsene states his position publicly. It's completely normal. We don't need to comment on that actually. Now, according to the projects that come in, we'll sit down around a table and talk.

"The most important thing is to know what is going to be offered or not this winter in order to find the best playing project. Having said that, that project has to be offered."

Giroud's name was frequently mentioned alongside that of Marseille in the summer, with the ambitious Ligue 1 club seeking to close the gap to arch-rivals Paris Saint-Germain by making high-profile purchases.

Manuello stated, however, that Giroud, who was part of the Montpellier squad that surprisingly pipped PSG to the French title in 2011-12, will not be heading back to Ligue 1.

"Olivier won't return to France. Unless there's a change of heart, as of now the intention is not to return to France," he said. "Our work is not to limit ourselves to one thing. Our work is to open things up as much as possible. In France, he won the title, he did different things, it's more difficult to return. Returning to France is the most difficult thing. It will be a solution outside of France if there is one."

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