West Ham United have reportedly decided to go head to head with Lyon in the race to sign Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud.
The French international will be allowed to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer should the Gunners receive a suitable offer, and Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has already revealed that Lyon are keen on his signature.
It leaves open the possibility of Giroud moving to the Ligue 1 side in part-exchange for Alexandre Lacazette, with Arsene Wenger willing to spend a club-record fee in order to bring him to North London.
However, according to The Mirror, West Ham are also showing a willingness to set new highs with the Hammers prepared to offer the 29-year-old a wage increase to an alleged £130,000 per week.
They will also pay Arsenal a fee which would at least match the £20.5m figure they shelled out to sign Swansea City attacker Andre Ayew last summer.
Giroud only made 14 starts in the Premier League and Champions League last season, but he still managed to net 14 goals.
Darren Plant
