OLIVIER GIROUD is nearing an exit from Chelsea with Inter Milan looking to beat Aston Villa and Newcastle to his signature.

A place in France's squad at the summer's European Championship is at stake for the striker, who is not short of offers.

Villa and Newcastle are the leading Premier League options with Inter and Ligue 1 side Bordeaux keen on a cut-price deal, according to the Telegraph.

Seen as most preferable from Giroud's perspective is a move to Italy and reunion with Antonio Conte, the coach who signed him for Chelsea six months before getting sacked.

The Nerazzurri boss has publicly lamented the thin nature of his squad as he battles to win Serie A and remain competitive in Europe, where his side narrowly missed out on a place in the Champions League last-16.

And Inter would only have to pay around £2.5million for Giroud, 33, ahead of his Chelsea contract expiring in the summer.

Some have speculated that, as one striker swaps London for Milan, another could go the other way with Gabriel Barbosa up for sale.

But the Brazilian striker, recently sent on loan from Inter to Flamengo to great effect, is reportedly not a Chelsea target.

In competition with the Italians are Newcastle, yet to get the best out of £40m Joelinton, and Villa, now without Wesley Moraes for the long-term.

The Midlands club are due to sign at least one Chelsea man though with Danny Drinkwater arriving on loan.

Which club Giroud picks, with the Blues keen to sanction a January sale, could depend on his chances of staying in the France team.

Coach Didier Deschamps has been remarkably loyal to the forward after his selfless play helped Les Bleus win the 2018 World Cup – despite him failing to fire a shot on target in 546 minutes on the pitch.

Speaking to Telefoot, Deschamps insisted Giroud should find a new club as soon as possible.

He said: “He knows very well he cannot be content with so little time. That is not even speaking about France, that is just on him.

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