Arsenal news: Olivier Giroud to leave Gunners on loan as West Ham and Crystal Palace lead chase
French striker desperate to exit Emirates in order to secure his World Cup place but wants to remain in London with his wife expecting their third child
OLIVIER GIROUD is reportedly desperate to seal a loan move from Arsenal to secure a place in France's World Cup squad with West Ham and Crystal Palace leading the race.
Arsene Wenger is set to lose his fellow countryman when the transfer window opens next month.
He managed to persuade the 31-year-old that his future lay at the Emirates last summer after a move to Everton had been agreed.
However, with his international place now at threat due to his lack of action he will be allowed to leave temporarily, according to the .
With the star's wife expecting their first child he wants to remain in London, ruling out a potential revival of a deal with the Toffees.
And that puts ' Hammers and 's Eagles firmly in the driving seat.
A source told the Mirror: “Olivier does not want to disturb and uproot his family.
“Ideally, he wants to stay but he needs football – there are options in London for him.”
Both West Ham and Palace want to forward to join initially on loan.
They are both able to offer him the chance of playing regularly and now the decision is down to Giroud.
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The striker has not yet started a Premier League match this season.
His main action has been restricted to Europa League and EFL Cup.
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He has still managed to find the net six times for the Gunners so far this campaign.
But with such fierce competition among the attackers for a spot in Didier Deschamps' France squad, he knows he needs more game time.
And he is not prepared to risk missing out on what could potentially be his last World Cup.