Defender tells Chelsea he is ready for move and German open to Premier League deal
Tah open to Premier League move, Camavinga boost, Chelsea wont sell Giroud, Ahmedhodzic ready for move in Chelsea roundup…
Pat Nevin says there is no way Chelsea are going to part with Olivier Giroud, who has hit an “astonishing” run of form.
Despite the fact that Giroud was a major player for Chelsea last season in their quest to get back into those top four spots, there has been constant speculation about his long-term future at the club as he simply has not been a regular this season.
However, Giroud scored yet again making if five goals in the space of a week, scoring four against Sevilla and the equaliser in yesterday’s 3-1 win against Leeds, and is fast becoming a big part of the side for Frank Lampard.
And Nevin believes that will bring any exit talk to a close, despite Giroud admitting that he may have to mull over his options, with the only headache facing Chelsea now being how to avoid burning out an in-form frontman.
“The phenomenal week Olivier Giroud has had contains another bunch of reasons to be cheerful,” former Blues winger Nevin told the club’s official website.
“Just a few weeks ago I had people asking me whether Olivier would stay with the club after the January window. This question is asked before nearly every January window to be fair, but I think we all know what the answer is after his five-goal haul in four days.
“His form is astonishing and after wondering for a while how he was going to get enough game time, the question is suddenly reversed, because he is so important to the cause. How do we now make sure he is not overused?
“I did some analysis on him before the Sevilla game. I have talked for many years, without embarrassment and even when he was at Arsenal, about him being the best near-post striker in the world. Well, the hat-trick goal against Sevilla and the first goal versus Leeds just underlined this point for about the 100th time.”
Long-term Chelsea target Jonathan Tah has admitted that he is open to making a move to the Premier League.
The former Hamburg defender has played just five times in the Bundesliga this season, though he has been a regular in Peter Bosz’s side throughout the Europa League group stages. Chelsea have been looking at a number of possible January transfer signings, as Frank Lampard knows that he needs to add a bit more depth to that Chelsea back-line, as the season is dangerous and a couple of injuries could put his side in real trouble.
Now, amid the speculation that have been eyeing up Tah, he has admitted that he would be open to a move to the Premier League: “The Premier League appeals to me, it has always been like that. I always had the feeling that my style of play would suit England well,” he said in an interview with Goal and SPOX .
“The physicality of the league and the need to think quickly are qualities that suit my game. Opinions differ as to which league is the best in the world – for me it’s the Premier League.”
He has two-and-a-half years left on his contract with Leverkusen, but he hopes to make a step up to the highest level of the game before too long.
“It may sound strange because I haven’t played that often lately, but I’m convinced that I can reach the top level in football,” said Tah, who was recently the subject of a documentary in which DAZN followed him for a year. “I’ve made a step forward, both on a sporting level and personally, but I don’t know where I’ll end up in the end.
“I have to be convinced that a transfer will help me. It depends on whether the club has their own philosophy or makes their philosophy dependent on the coach. “Then the question arises as to which system the coach uses and what he expects from his players, especially in my position.
“Of course, how the team is set up is also very important. How big is the competition in my position, which guys would I play with? So there are some factors to consider.”