Hammers eye Giroud

interest in the 30-year-old from Marseille and several clubs in Italy, but the Hammers are confident they can match any offer and keep the £20million striker in London.

Manager Arsene Wenger and Gunners Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis were in Nice last week, talking to Lyon president Jean Michel-aulas about 26-year-old Alexandre Lacazette. Their pursuit of 18-year-old Monaco starlet Kylian Mbappe is also well known – but neither would join Arsenal to play second fiddle to Giroud.

Alexis Sanchez was often preferred through the middle last season, while Wenger went with Danny Welbeck ahead of Giroud in the FA Cup Final.