There have been a number of footballing stars make the move from across Europe to the Chinese Super League in these last few transfer windows, a number of which have come from the Premier League. Big money moves for players such as Oscar have become a regular feature of this transfer window and the last, so much so that the footballing culture in China is rapidly growing.
As the number of footballing stars move to the league, interest is really beginning to hit up for players from across Europe. This group of Arsenal players have often proven loyal to the club, but one member of the squad has revealed that a move to China is a possible option for him in the future.
Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud has only recently signed a new contract with the Gunners, with the striker putting pen to paper with fellow Frenchmen Coquelin and Koscielny. The striker was very pleased to commit his future to the club, but in what seems to be a rather random and unanticipated statement from Giroud himself, it seems that the Frenchman may consider the riches of the Chinese Super League after all.
Giroud was asked about the current interest from China and stated that although a move away from the Premier League is unlikely at this moment in time, the Frenchman would consider the move in a few years. Giroud stated: “If you ask me if I would go now, I would tell you no. I still want to play in the Premier League. I am happy here. This is my club and I want to win more trophies with this club. The Premier League is my main target. After I have won it, maybe one day, you never know.”
It’s good to see that Giroud is committed to his Arsenal deal after all; and that the new contract offer just wasn’t a way of bumping up the potential figure we could sell the player for. Giroud may be in and out of the team at the moment, but he’s finding the back of the net on a more consistent basis in recent weeks. This is despite a rather uneventful and slow burning start to the 2016/17 season.
There are plenty of doubters about Giroud’s talents and I must admit there are still times where I remain unconvinced of whether he’d ever been likely to lead the Gunners towards a Premier League title. However he holds a very valuable position on the team and one that he is clearly willing to fight for. It’s good to see the amount of loyalty being expressed by a number of our squad players at the moment and if Oli G continues to bang in the goals, then perhaps his efforts of a Premier League title in the next couple of years are quite plausible after all.
By AH