Olivier Giroud:
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Olivier Giroud has emerged as a player of real talent this season
Perhaps not as classy or playing for as big a club as Gameiro but Olivier Giroud is an equally as effective predator. Montpellier's star man has delivered big in recent weeks, with a whopping six goals in six games to tie with his international counterpart at the top of the Ligue 1 scoring chart. Recently called up by Laurent Blanc to the France squad for the first time ahead of their November friendlies, the 25-year old has leapt to the attention of European football fans in spectacular fashion. A hat-trick in a 5-3 routing of Dijon the day before Gameiro bagged his trio was the highlight of his recent half dozen but with la Paillade showing no signs of giving up their place in second, the bustling striker knows that he needs to maintain his high quality form.
Speaking recently about MHSC's top form and their chances of maintaining this unexpected run of form he said: "When I see that we are capable of competing with the bigger clubs, and that we have played all the big boys with the exception of Marseille and yet we are still here, I am convinced that we have what it takes to stay up at the top of the table.
"When you look at the way we have started the season, the self-belief we have, the efficiency in front of goal, we have every reason to approach the remainder of the season full of hope."
The purple patch Giroud is currently enjoying is attracting admiring glances from a number of Premier League clubs. including Alan Pardew's Newcastle United who could be having second thoughts about completing the deal for Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga, who they almost signed this summer. Despite being in good form since winning his place back in the Lionceaux side, Maiga has illustrated his reputation as a mercenary and could well have put the Magpies off due to his behavior in trying to push through a deal in August.
Giroud has all the physical attributes that would suit the Premier league, is in better form than Maiga and has less of an ego for managers to deal with so he could be the better choice. The Frenchman represents good business to a number of European sides however and because he is not cup-tied in Europe, a side offering either UEFA Champions League or Europa League football might fancy that they can lure him away from Herault this January.
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