Giroud reveals all over scuppered Chelsea exit

Olivier Giroud has revealed he did everything he could to leave Chelsea in January. 

The Frenchman endured a difficult first half of the season as he found himself behind Tammy Abraham in the pecking order. 

As such, Giroud pushed for a move away from Stamford Bridge at the turn of the year as he sought regular game time with Euro 2020 on the horizon. 

The striker's fortunes have improved in recent weeks, with Giroud starting, and scoring in, the 4-0 win over Everton on Sunday. 

Giroud has now made five league starts this season, three of which have come since mid-February, but it could have been so much different for both player and club. 

"I saw myself elsewhere after experiencing a complicated six months," Giroud is quoted as saying by Get French Football News. 

"I did everything I could to leave Chelsea, but they did not want to let me go unless they could get a replacement. Inter Milan was my priority with contacts as well with Lazio and Tottenham. 

"But the circumstances brought Chelsea to block me. This was not my choice. Aside from that, either you sulk or you come back fighting to win your place." 

Giroud has also admitted that he spoke with Didier Deschamps, who warned the frontman not to move to MLS if he wished to secure a spot in France's Euro 2020 squad. 

"We briefly spoke about the MLS, and no, that was not an option for me if I wanted to be at the Euros," Giroud said of his conversation with Deschamps.