According to Sky Sports, Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri is willing to let Olivier Giroud leave the club this summer, with Atletico Madrid his most likely destination.

The French forward only joined the Blues in January, and impressed in the second half of the Premier League campaign at Stamford Bridge.

The 31-year-old has enjoyed an even more successful summer, playing a key role for the French national team that lifted the World Cup in Russia.

However, Chelsea are apparently willing to let Giroud leave, with Sarri keen on bringing Gonzalo Higuain to the club, according to Sky in Italy.

Allowing the Frenchman to depart this summer would be a mistake though, as the target man can still play a vital role at Stamford Bridge in the upcoming season.

The Breakdown

Giroud’s greatest gift as a striker is not his goalscoring. That being said, scoring 105 goals for the Gunners in all competitions across 6 seasons is no mean feat. Above finding the back of the net though, Giroud’s hold up play, and ability to bring his teammates into attacking moves, is his best quality.

It is in that capacity that Giroud is one of the best centre forwards in the world. His talent for playing that tactical role is what keeps him in the French national side ahead of the likes of Alexandre Lacazette and Anthony Martial.

Having Giroud in this Chelsea team can also help to get the best out of the Blues’ other attacking talents such as Eden Hazard, Willian, and Pedro. The presence of the ex-Arsenal man allows those faster, less physical players to play quick little one-two passes with the striker and find open space in dangerous areas.

Taking Giroud out of this Chelsea team would deprive them not only of a goal threat and one of the best super-subs in the business, but also of an entire tactical system that only his inclusion allows.