Sunday, 18th March, 2012
Aston Villa are the latest side to have joined the chase for Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud, while the English outfit have also taken an interest in Benjamin Stambouli.
According to French sports daily L’Equipe, Alex McLeish’s men sent a scout to watch Giroud and Stambouli in action yesterday as Montpellier took on Nancy at the Marcel-Picot stadium.
Rene Girard’s men slipped to a 1-0 defeat, although Paris Saint-Germain’s draw at Caen saw the gap between the two clubs at the top of Ligue 1 increase by just one point to two points.
Nevertheless, Giroud especially has been in excellent form this season, scoring 17 times in Ligue 1 and spearheading Montpellier’s title charge.
The Stade de la Mosson outfit have admitted that keeping hold of the former Tours man in the summer will be difficult, with a number of clubs keeping tabs on his situation. Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Newcastle are all confirmed admirers, while the player’s agent has insisted sides in Spain and Italy also want his client.
Giroud is expected to cost in excess of €15M when he does quit Montpellier, although Aston Villa would appear to be late comers to trying to tempt the striker away from France.
The English side are also thought to hold an interest in another Montpellier player, 21-year-old defender Benjamin Stambouli.
The France Under-21 international has made impressive progress at the Stade de la Mosson. Unlike Giroud however, Montpellier are not resigned to his departure.
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