Chelsea could find themselves with a shortage of strikers next season as Lazio plot a summer move for Olivier Giroud.

Earlier this week Corriere dello Sport reported that Giroud agreed to join Lazio before the end of the most recent transfer window, but Chelsea blocked the move as they were unable to sign a replacement.

And now the Italian publication claim Lazio have hatched a plan to secure their target for free at the end of the season, report the Daily Express.

Clubs from outside the UK are free to approach players in the final six months of their current deal, meaning Giroud is now available to sign a pre-contract agreement.

And Le Aquile have supposedly mustered a weighty salary package in order to entice the World Cup winner to Italy.

Corriere dello Sport state Lazio will offer the 33-year-old a three-year contract with €3.5million per year plus bonuses.

This would ensure Giroud is contracted up until 2023, when he will be nearly 37.

Lazio are currently top of Serie A by two points, although they have played a game more than Juventus due to the recent fixture postponements caused by Coronavirus.

The club will therefore hopefully be able to offer Champions League football, and while Chelsea are currently in the top four their European qualification spot is far from secure.

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