Dua dari tiga kemungkinan transfer yang melibatkan tiga klub besar Eropa akhirnya rampung. OLEH Gunawan Widyantara Ikuti di twitter Chelsea telah menuntaskan kepindahan Olivier Giroud dari Arsenal di hari terakhir bursa transfer pemain musim dingin 2018.
Kepindahan Giroud ke Stamford Bridge diyakini melibatkan mahar transfer yang mencapai £18 juta.
Kehadiran penyerang tim nasional Prancis ke skuat Antonio Conte ini semakin melebarkan peluang bagi Michy Batshuayi untuk memperkuat Borussia Dortmund yang melepas Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ke Emirates. Terkait
Kedatangan bomber tajam Gabon tersebut memang bakal membuat Giroud kesulitan menambah menit bermain yang bisa berbuntut menipisnya kans bermain di Rusia.
Giroud mendapat kontrak berdurasi satu setengah tahun di Stamford Bridge dengan opsi perpanjangan satu tahun.
Di Chelsea Giroud akan bersaing ketat dengan Alvaro Morata untuk menyambar satu tempat di skema permainan Conte.
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Sam Allardyce, speaking immediately after Everton’s 2-1 defeat of Leicester City, said Eliaquim Mangala’s loan move from Manchester City is “very close. Or it should be, he’s been here long enough.”
The Everton manager was interesting on Ademola Lookman’s surprise loan move to RB Leipzig and Davy Klaassen’s failed loan move to Napoli.
On Lookman, he said: “It was one of the most unusual situations I’ve been in. We got some deals for him but he chose Germany. It was his choice. For a young player to go to Germany without speaking the language is a massive challenge. We tried to persuade him not to go as it’s a big challenge for his development. We wanted him to go out on loan to play first team football every week - there were better opportunities for that - but he was stubborn and got what he wanted. I hope he proves us all wrong and is very successful over there because then he can push for the team here next season.
As for Klaassen, Allardyce explained: “It was a weird situation with Klaassen. Something about a sporting contract was the difficulty. He has a sporting contract with a sporting company and that was part of the reason it failed. God knows how. I can’t expand on any more than that. It was one of the best moves he could have got in Europe. We’re disappointed but he should be more disappointed than us because he’s not going to be playing for Napoli who are going for the Italian league.”
Oliver Giroud said he was 'proud' to join Chelsea after completing his £18million transfer deadline day move from Arsenal.
The Gunners agreed to sell Giroud to their London rivals after wrapping up a club-record £56m deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Dortmund were prepared to sell Aubameyang once they knew they had a loan deal secured for Michy Batshuayi.
Chelsea confirmed Giroud's transfer at around 4.45pm, over an hour after Sportsmail revealed the news, while Dortmund also confirmed their deal for Batshuayi. He will wear the No 18 shirt at Stamford Bridge.
Olivier Giroud holds up a Chelsea shirt after completing his transfer from Arsenal
The 31-year-old France striker holds up a Chelsea scarf as he celebrates his £18m move
Giroud will wear the No 18 shirt at Chelsea, and said he was 'proud' to join the club
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia called Giroud a 'fantastic signing'
Giroud called Chelsea 'a massive club' after completing his medical and agreeing personal terms for his move across London.
'Chelsea is one of the biggest teams in the Premier League,' he told the club's official website. 'They have won maybe the most trophies in the last six or seven years. It’s a massive club and I am proud to sign for Chelsea, and I’m looking forward to playing.’
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: 'Olivier is a proven talent at the top level and we are very pleased to call him a Chelsea player.
'He has scored goals regularly throughout his career and is well accustomed to English football and the Premier League. We are sure he will be a fantastic signing.'
Giroud has swapped the Arsenal bench for a new life at their fierce London rivals
Giroud's arrival paved the way for Michy Batshuayi to complete his loan move to Dortmund
The deal for Giroud ends Chelsea's frantic search for a striker this January, with the club chasing Roma's Edin Dzeko, Andy Carroll from West Ham, and even 37-year-old Stoke star Peter Crouch.
Wenger hailed the 'top class' commitment of Giroud after the striker played in Arsenal's defeat by Swansea despite being on the brink of joining Chelsea.
The 31-year-old Frenchman, who spent five-and-a-half years at Arsenal, came on for the final 15 minutes of the surprise 3-1 loss on Tuesday night even while the club ironed out the final details of his transfer.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger paid tribute to Giroud ahead of his move to Chelsea
Against Swansea, the Frenchman came on for what was his last Gunners' appearance
'Always his behaviour was top, top class', said Wenger of Giroud after the Swansea game
In the wake of his side's disappointing display in South Wales, Wenger paid tribute to his departing forward.
'It's a tribute to Olivier (that he played) because he is a guy who gave great service to the club, he never let us down on the commitment front and saved us many times,' Wenger said.
'I have absolutely no doubt, when I ask him if he is ready to commit and he says yes. I have no problem with that and put him on because it was needed. Unfortunately he couldn't help us.
'I took him from Montpellier and made him a strong international player for France. We have come together through good and bad but always his behaviour was top, top class.'
Giroud's transfer had earlier reached an impasse as talks between Arsenal and Chelsea broke down over the fee. However, Wenger's willingness to help Giroud achieve his move is understood to have been a key factor.
Dortmund were refusing to sign off Aubameyang's transfer without securing a replacement and they had also discussed signing Giroud on loan.
However, Arsenal's desire to complete a permanent sale, plus Giroud's determination to move across London, helped get the deal over the line.
KOMPAS.com - Tanda-tanda kepergian Olivier Giroud dari Arsenal sudah semakin jelas.
Kali ini, pelatih Arsenal, Arsene Wenger , turut buka suara terkait rumor kepergian Olivier Giroud.
Giroud sempat bermain sebagai pemain pengganti kala Arsenal berhadapan dengan Swansea City di Liga Inggris, Rabu (31/1/2018).
Arsene Wenger pun mengisyaratkan bahwa laga tersebut bisa menjadi pertandingan terakhir Giroud bersama Arsenal.
"Laga tadi bisa jadi yang terakhir bagi Giroud, tetapi keputusan baru akan dibuat nanti," kata Wenger seperti dilansir BolaSport.com dari SkySports.com .
Baca juga: Manchester United Terancam Kehilangan Pemain di Detik-detik Akhir Bursa Transfer
"Kami ingin memberikan penghargaan bagi Giroud di laga tadi karena ia telah berjasa banyak untuk klub," ujar Wenger.
Wenger mengakui bahwa komitmen Giroud di laga tersebut masih 100 persen.
Hanya, Giroud tak berhasil membantu Arsenal terhindar dari kekalahan 1-3 kala melawan Swansea City.
Giroud terlihat berpamitan dengan para penggemar Arsenal seusai laga tersebut.
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Sang striker asal Perancis saat ini erat dikaitkan akan hengkang ke rival Arsenal di Liga Inggris, Chelsea.
Kesepakatan Giroud dan Chelsea baru akan diumumkan hari ini waktu Inggris. (Sri Mulyati)
