Olivier Giroud 'to sign new AC Milan deal this week'

AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud will sign a new deal with the Italian champions later this week, according to a report.

The 36-year-old remains the focal point of the Rossoneri's attack during Zlatan Ibrahimovic's injury woes and has produced 10 goals and six assists in 26 outings in all tournaments this term.

Giroud found the back of the net 11 times last season as Stefano Pioli's side clinched the Serie A title, and he now boasts 24 goals and 10 assists from 64 appearances in red and black since arriving from Chelsea in 2021.

Giroud - who became France's all-time highest goalscorer at the World Cup - is due to become a free agent at the end of this season, having entered the final six months of his existing contract.

The ex-Arsenal man is therefore able to discuss pre-contract terms with foreign clubs, and Everton are said to have failed with a move to bring him to Goodison Park on transfer deadline day.

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Having remained loyal to Milan in January, Sky Italia reports that Giroud will commit his future to the Scudetto holders with a new one-year deal until 2024 early this week.

The report states that Paolo Maldini and Frederic Massara are determined to seal Giroud's extension as quickly as possible, after he turned down an £8.5m-a-year deal from Everton.

However, the Frenchman's agent Vincenzo Morabito has affirmed that Giroud never gave any thought to the prospect of leaving Milan amid links with relegation-threatened Everton.

"I can only say that he never wanted to think about leaving AC Milan," PianetaMilan quotes Morabito as saying. "There is a good relationship with the club and with the fans.

"What comes out of England are situations that I want to avoid commenting on. There is a contract until June. Milan themselves have never considered parting with the player.

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"It's always a pleasure that a player almost considered finished at this age goes to the World Cup and scores four goals. In the league he is giving a lot, last year he was decisive and gave Milan many points. He always scores big goals."

Giroud will be expected to lead the line for Pioli's side in Sunday's Milan derby against Inter Milan, and he is not the only member of the Rossoneri frontline whom the club are determined to agree a new contract with.

The future of Rafael Leao has been shrouded in uncertainty for some time now, as the highly-rated Portuguese youngster is only under contract with the Rossoneri until the end of next season.

Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been linked with moves for Leao, but the 23-year-old's lawyer has confirmed that he wants to stay at San Siro.

Milan occupy fifth spot in the Serie A table ahead of Sunday's Derby della Madonnina, but they will leapfrog second-placed Inter - who are only two points better off - with victory at San Siro.