Chelsea trio Giroud, Pedro and Willian could all still leave on free transfer despite returning to first XI
PEDRO, Willian and Olivier Giroud could all leave Chelsea this summer despite their recent return to the starting XI, according to reports.
The trio are all out of contract at Stamford Bridge at the end of the current campaign.
It means the three are now able to sign pre-contract agreements to join foreign clubs for next season.
And according to , they are still at risk of being let go for nothing.
That is despite them playing crucial roles in the recent wins over Liverpool and Everton.
Willian scored in the FA Cup victory and then all three found the net in the 4-0 Premier League thumping with Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi all unavailable.
Chelsea have a policy which means they only give one-year extensions to players in their 30s - as current boss Frank Lampard was well aware of as he was let go in 2014.
Willian, 31, was a reported target for Barcelona last year but a move failed to materialise.
He wants a longer deal at the Bridge but Chelsea are adamant they will only give him a further 12 months.
The Brazilian, linked with Arsenal, told ESPN: "We really like London, I have said it many times. It is a city where my family and I love to live... but the contract situation really isn't easy.
"Chelsea offered me two years, I asked for three years and everything stopped there."
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Giroud, 33, has proved his value to the side in recent games - just weeks after being on the verge of a move to Tottenham at the end of the January transfer window while Inter and Lazio were also interested.
He said to Telefoot: "Even I saw myself elsewhere, to be honest. I went through six complicated months.
“That's why I tried to leave in January. I did everything [to leave]. In the end, with the circumstances, Chelsea did not want to let me go. The crucial condition for my departure was to have a replacement.
“The most interesting club for me was Inter. The problem is that it dragged on. In the end, and even if Lazio were there towards the end and Tottenham too, it was no longer a question of where I was going to leave but could I leave. There was nothing to do. I was stuck.
“I knew that anyway I shouldn't start going on strike or wreak havoc in the locker room. First of all, because it is not me and also because I knew there was a good chance that I would stay at Chelsea. That’s why I stayed flawless and professional until the end.
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“There were two reactions: either I mope around or I fight for my place. That's what I did. And the coach who promised me more opportunities to play kept his word and I took my chance.”
And like the other two, Pedro, 32, is respected in the dressing room and seen as a classy professional, a strong role model to the youngsters coming through and player that still has plenty to offer in West London.
Moves to the MLS, Japan and even a return to Barcelona have been reported but the Blues may decide to tie him down once more.
