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Identifying target-men PSG could sign to free Kylian Mbappé

By Antonio Losada

Kylian Mbappe celebrating with Olivier Giroud during the UEFA Nations league match between France v Austria at the Stade de France on September 22, 2022 in Paris France (Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Kylian Mbappe celebrating with Olivier Giroud during the UEFA Nations league match between France v Austria at the Stade de France on September 22, 2022 in Paris France (Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images) /
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AC Milan’s French forward Olivier Giroud (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
AC Milan’s French forward Olivier Giroud (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /

From AC Milan to PSG? Olivier Giroud (36)

Is there any more obvious pick than the very own Oli?

The veteran Frenchman is, well, experienced when it comes to practicing this thing we call football. And there is also the personification of aging by our good old friend Father Time, who of course remains undefeated.

“Undefeated at what?” would Olivier Giroud ask.

Giroud might have turned 36 years old a week ago, but the forward is still alive and well. In 11 games this season in all competitions, Giroud has scored 5 goals and assisted another. Remove his penalty kicks from the equation, and Giroud has outperformed his non-penalty Expected Goals (npxG) by 1.1 goals in all competitions.

Perhaps more importantly for Mbappe’s interest, Giroud is the man that fostered the younger France international comments about his “freedom” in the forward line of the national team compared to the role he is used at in PSG.

PSG, as economically powerful as it is, will never spend big bucks on an aging, close-to-retirement striker. Let alone doing that for someone that would seemingly be replacing ,or at least rotating, with either Neymar or Messi whether they remain in the French capital or leave next summer.

Speaking of next summer, though, Giroud’s deal is expiring next June. That will turn Giroud into a free agent after that month is over and if we, (and Giroud) are honest, there wouldn’t be many more options for him when it comes to championship-chasing than joining PSG, in his native France, to partner with someone at the top of world soccer such as Mbappe.

A win-win scenario for both men, isn’t it?

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