Chelsea FC striker Olivier Giroud set to complete AC Milan move

Olivier Giroud is set to complete a move to AC Milan as Chelsea step up a major reshuffle this summer.

The France international, who had a 12-month contract extension triggered in April, is expected to sign a two-year deal with the Serie A giants.

Milan had wanted to sign the 34-year-old on a free, but will pay around £850,000 with a further £850,000 in potential add-ons.

Chelsea have already sold Fikayo Tomori to the Italian club for a fee that could rise to £30million and are set to bring in more funds by offloading a host of fringe players during this window.

They want £40million for striker Tammy Abraham, while left-back Emerson Palmieri is wanted by Napoli among other Italian clubs.

The defender, who has been pushed down the pecking order following the signing of Ben Chilwell and Marcos Alonso’s resurgence under Thomas Tuchel, has significantly raised his profile after helping Italy win the Euros.

Billy Gilmour has already been loaned to Norwich for the season, while fellow midfielders Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are expected to leave on loan or in permanent deals, if buyers can be found.

While Tuchel welcomed a bloated squad upon his arrival in January, the German plans to stamp his own mark on it in his first transfer window at Stamford Bridge.

He delivered the Champions League in May and has now been challenged by owner Roman Abramovich to bring the Premier League title back to Chelsea.

Tuchel has been promised significant funds to improve his squad after being frustrated with his striking options last season.

A top-class centre forward is his priority, with Erling Haaland his dream signing after also placing Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku and Sergio Aguero on his list of targets when drawing up the profile of striker he wanted to bring to the club.

Achraf Hakimi was also on Chelsea’s wanted list – but the right back opted for a move to Paris Saint-Germain instead of the European champions.

Tuchel is well-covered in that area with Reece James, but Hakimi was seen as an opportunity they had to explore.

The Chelsea manager also believes James’ long-term future could be as a third centre back, having excelled in that role towards the end of the season.

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