Chelsea: Olivier Giroud hat trick offers new case for another year in Blue

Olivier Giroud’s stunning performance against Dynamo Kiev gave Chelsea new reasons to think about extending him through next season.

Olivier Giroud turned back the clocks in Chelsea’s Europa League second leg match against Dynamo Kyiv. The Frenchman netted a hat-trick and topped off a scintillating performance with a gorgeous assist. The 32-year-old looked like his old self, to the delight of many but to the dismay of a few. His performance reintroduced some questions about his future with the club.

Chelsea are in a bit of a sticky situation when it comes to their strikers. With a two-window transfer ban looming, the Blues have yet to find a viable long-term No. 9. The same questions that plagued club officials when Diego Costa departed the club still loom over Stamford Bridge.

Giroud is 32 years old and has a little over three months remaining on his contract. Although he’s offered very little up until this point of the season, he could be a vital piece in the Chelsea puzzle. With the transfer ban showing no signs of being lifted, Gonzalo Higuain is gone next season, regardless of the manager. Chelsea will have to rely heavily on their loanees to lead the line next fall.

As things stand, Chelsea’s strikers will be Michy Batshuayi and Tammy Abraham next season. While both names come with a bit of optimistic curiosity, skepticism surrounds each of the two young forwards.

If neither pans out, Chelsea are going to dig themselves into a deeper hole than last season. When Alvaro Morata and Batshuayi struggled together, the Blues were at least able to go out and get Giroud mid-season. If Batshuayi and Abraham struggle, there will be nobody swooping in to save the day until the following summer.

Chelsea’s board needs to bite the bullet and sign Giroud to a one-year contract. First and foremost, he offers an experienced striking option should the two youngsters flop. The club knows what it is getting with Giroud. Despite the over-30 policy, Giroud is the best option for the near future.

Second, he still has some gas left in the tank. Even though Chelsea fans talk about Giroud like he’s on the cusp of retirement, the 32-year old has a lot of goals left in him. He showed that with his hat trick against Dynamo Kyiv. While he’s certainly no Harry Kane or Sergio Aguero, Giroud remains one of the best finishers in the Premier League.

Giroud brings something to the table that Batshuayi and Abraham don’t: experience. While he may no longer be the most impressive goalscorer, Giroud carries years of Premier League experience with him. Batshuayi and Abraham have about three years of English top flight experience between them. It would be vital to the youngsters’ development to have an experienced veteran in the dressing room.

This would benefit the two young strikers, but also players like Callum Hudson-Odoi should he stay in London. One of Hudson-Odoi’s strongest attributes is his ability to put beautiful crosses in a perfect position. Wingers need a tall, strong forward to get on the end of those crosses, someone like Giroud. Giroud would help Hudson-Odoi almost as much as Abraham and Batshuayi.

If nothing else, the Blues need to re-sign Giroud for his performances mid-week. Being the Europa League’s top scorer heading into the quarterfinals should count for something.

However, the club may not feel the same. Giroud will definitely spark a debate between club officials in the coming months. He’s a rarity. Although he may not check many of the boxes of their standards anymore, Chelsea has a tough, uncertain road ahead of it.

But one thing is for sure. The road would be a lot smoother with the meaty forehead and model-like hair of Giroud leading the lines.