Chelsea are considering a move to persuade Olivier Giroud to swap the Emirates for Stamford Bridge.
The Arsenal striker has been expected to make a loan switch to Borussia Dortmund. But that appears in danger of breaking down with the German club unable to agree a deal with the Gunners for £65million-rated frontman Pierre Emerick Aubameyang to go the other way.
Chelsea, themselves in advanced talks with Roma frontman Edin Dzeko, have Giroud among their many options as Antonio Conte hunts a powerful forward to compete with Alvaro Morata.
The Blues had already considered West Ham’s Andy Carroll, Peter Crouch of Stoke and Burnley’s Ashley Barnes before settling on ex-Manchester City man Dzeko.
Earlier this week Antonio Conte confirmed he had been interested in signing Alexis Sanchez but pulled out of the running this month because he could not afford the Chilean’s wages.
In 2015 Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich allowed veteran keeper Petr Cech to leave the club for regular first-team football at Arsenal.
It is understood the possibility of Giroud has now been explored as an alternative in case the club are unable to agree a fee with the 31-year-old Bosnian.
Giroud, who has 18 months left on his contract, snubbed a move to Everton in the summer as his wife Jennifer was against him leaving London.
Arsenal are so far away from agreeing a deal for Aubameyang that the Gabon international goal-machine is currently in his club’s squad for their Friday game against Freiburg.
Dortmund are said to be frustrated with the slow progress of negotiations.
Their head coach, Peter Stoger, said: “Aubameyang has trained with the team and he has done well. So as things stand he has qualified to be in the team on Saturday.”
It comes with Chelsea chiefs unimpressed with Conte’s latest attack on the club’s board.
The Italian put himself on collision course with his bosses in the wake of Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat at Arsenal by claiming he has no influence on transfer policy — as the club do not listen to him.
Conte said: “I think the club decide our transfer market. As I said before, my task is to try to improve the team. About the transfer market, from the summer, the club decides every single player.
“My first task is to do my job, and be a coach, and to try to improve my players. For sure, I don’t have a big impact on the transfer market.”