Olly deal: Gunners agree £13m fee for France striker Giroud (report)

Montpellier ace would join Podolski at Emirates, and bit-player Marouane Chamakh could be the sweetener, as Gunners prepare for future without RvP

Giroud (center)

Ooh to, ooh to be, ooh to be ooh-la-la! Another French signing for Gooners?

Arsenal are reported to have agreed a fee of £13million with Montpellier for France international striker Olivier Giroud.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been sniffing around the player who fired Montpellier to the League title in France last season – but now widespread reports are claiming a fee has been agreed.

Wenger has already brought Germany star Lukas Podolski to the club this summer and Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has promised further signings.

Not very close: New Gunner Lukas Podolski swings a peg at one while on international duty in Polkraine

There have been suggestions that Marouane Chamakh could move the other way as part of the deal.
Both Chelsea and QPR were thought to be in the hunt for Giroud, but Arsenal's reported bid has put them in pole position, because it activates a £12.8million release clause in the player's contract.