WORLD CUP WINNER GIROUD COULD LOSE PLACE TO HIGUAIN

CHELSEA have been approached by Marseille over a potential move for Olivier Giroud. Mirror Sport exclusively revealed last month that the Blues are prepared to allow the France World Cup winner to leave along with Alvaro Morata (right), to make way for Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain.

Marseille, who were keen on Giroud last summer, have returned after failing in a move to land troubled Mario Balotelli from Nice.

Giroud, 31, only signed for Chelsea in a shock January £18million switch after struggling for game time at Arsenal. He steadily made himself a more reliable alternative to Morata at Stamford Bridge. But Giroud failed to find the net in any of his seven games at the World Cup. Now new Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri wants to continue bringing in his own players after beating Manchester City to the £57m signing of midfielder Jorginho from Napoli. Juventus are open to the sale of £240,000-aweek Higuain after their stunning capture of Cristiano Ronaldo. But they want 25-year-old Morata included in the deal, along with a fee of around £55m. Giroud has 12 months left on his current deal and rival clubs are aware of his availability. Morata, signed for £58m last summer from Real Madrid, wants out of Chelsea after scoring 15 goals in a patchy debut season in English football.