Inter
Milan are close to an agreement with Chelsea over a deal for Olivier Giroud,
according to Sky in Italy.
Officials from the Serie A side held talks with the France striker's agents
last week.
Sky in Italy reported on Friday that Giroud, whose Blues deal expires in the
summer, had agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract.
There is less than £1m (€1.17m) between Chelsea's request and Inter's offer.
The Blues have asked for £4.3m plus £850,000 (€5m + €1m), while Inter have
offered £3.4m plus £850,000 (€4m + €1m).
There is an ongoing exchange of emails and there is a desire to close the
deal as soon as possible.
Lyon have also been keen to sign the 33-year-old forward, while Aston Villa
made a loan approach earlier in the window.
Giroud was at Stamford Bridge on Saturday watching the 3-0 win over Burnley
from behind the team's dugout.
He has not featured for Frank Lampard's side since the end of November, with
Tammy Abraham the preferred choice.
Giroud has scored 19 goals since joining Chelsea in January 2018, although
only five have come in the league where the majority of his appearances have
been as a substitute.
He has only made five Premier League appearances this season, with four of
his five goals for the campaign on international duty and the fifth in the
European Super Cup against Liverpool.
A move to Inter would reunite Giroud with Antonio Conte, who initially
signed him for Chelsea after his five-and-a-half season spell with London
rivals Arsenal.
Lampard admitted on Friday that it wouldn't be a gamble if he opted to sell
Giroud in January.
"Oli has been great and I respect him for that and that slightly comes into
my thinking as well," he said.
"The club will always come first. If I feel the decision is to keep
everybody in the January window that will be my decision too. Nothing is
done yet."
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