OLIVIER GIROUD reckons the signing of Timo Werner has motivated the rest of the Chelsea forwards.
And the Frenchman is refusing to give up on his spot in the Blues team just yet.
Chelsea confirmed the signing of Werner this week with a £48million deal agreed with RB Leipzig for the Germany international.
It could easily spell bad news for Tammy Abraham despite already scoring 13 Premier League goals in his first season as the first-choice striker at Stamford Bridge.
Werner has been in blistering form for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, bagging 26 goals in just 32 league appearances.
Speaking to The Guardian, though, Giroud reckons it could actually be good for the Chelsea attackers as it pushes them to higher levels.
He said: “He is going to be a very good signing and more motivation for strikers.
“We have a very competitive team, with a good alchemy between the youngsters and experienced players.
“We expect new signings because it’s been two transfer windows but I have a lot of expectation about this squad.”
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard gave a stark warning to Chelsea’s young hopefuls, telling them to get used to scrapping for their futures.
Lampard said: “I’ve spoken to Tammy before about the idea of competition and I don’t feel the need to have to address every player if a player comes in who might challenge their position at a club like Chelsea, because that’s what it’s about.
“It’s been about that in its most successful years, in recent years in the Roman Abramovich era.
“Tammy has had a very good season for us this season. He has to sustain and improve on that because at Chelsea we have demands.
“I’m happy to have options and we have options in forward areas. And we must have competition for places. So I’m pleased with the idea of that.”
Giroud penned a one-year contract extension in May to ensure he sticks around for next season.
He was close to a move away in the winter transfer window but that fell through and now he is glad to have his future secure for another 12 months amid the global pandemic.
The French World Cup winner added: “I read in the newspaper that coronavirus influenced my decision.
“You cannot forget the situation, but when the club wanted to give me another year because I have shown a strong character, I felt that my journey at Chelsea was not over.
“I would have felt very sad if I had left the club in January.
“Three and half months later and it is totally different. I kept my fitness, running in the park. I will give my best to be back in the team. I’m excited.”
