Inter Milan 'want Olivier Giroud on six-month loan deal'

Inter Milan are reportedly interested in signing Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud on a six-month loan deal in January.

According to Tuttosport, Inter head coach Antonio Conte sees the Frenchman - whom he worked with at Stamford Bridge - as an ideal alternative to the in-form Romelu Lukaku up front.

The Nerazzurri boss is thought to want an option to buy included in any loan deal for Giroud, who has fallen out of favour under Frank Lampard.

The 34-year-old has been restricted to a handful of appearances off the bench, playing less than 50 minutes of Premier League football for Chelsea so far this season, neither scoring nor assisting in that time.

Giroud voiced his frustration at his lack of game-time recently, telling Telefoot: "It's worrying. I thought I still had a role to play at Chelsea but my playing time is getting reduced a lot. It's going to have to change or a decision must be made."

However, given that he would be expected to fulfil a similar rotational role at Inter, and with West Ham and Tottenham also thought to be keeping tabs on the striker, Conte has had to shortlist alternatives to the Frenchman.

Chief among those is Napoli's Arkadiusz Milik, who has been frozen out under Gennaro Gattuso and is out of contract at the end of this season.