Marseille rule out move for Giroud

Marseille sporting director Jose Anigo has ruled out a summer move for Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud.

The France international has been attracting attention from a number of high-profile European clubs following an impressive couple of seasons in Ligue 1.

Arsene Wenger is said to be an admirer of the 25-year-old, and his prospects of capturing Giroud’s signature may have increased following the news he has shunned a move to Marseille as he wishes to play Champions League football.

“He’s a player who wants to play in the Champions League, and like it will be not our case, it will not come,” Anigo told RMC.

“We talked a lot, we tried to learn about his desires, and I think it’s someone who wants to take a step.”

Since his move from Ligue 2 side Tours, Giroud has impressed at Montpellier, scoring 36 goals and making his international debut against the United States in November 2011.

The stumbling block as far as Wenger is concerned may be a transfer fee. Montpellier are said to rate their hot-shot forward highly and would not be looking to offload him cheaply with his current deal not set to run out until 2014.

Meanwhile, Giroud has disputed the notion that Wednesday’s opponents Marseille will throw in the towel to aid his team in the title race over Paris Saint-Germain.

Rene Girard’s side are level on points with PSG, but with a game in hand, and head the Ligue 1 standings by virtue of a superior goal difference, and will go three points clear if they win at the Stade Velodrome on Wednesday.

There have been calls from Marseille supporter groups to throw the game as revenge for the 1999 title race, when PSG’s 3-2 defeat to Bordeaux in the final round of fixtures denied OM the league crown.

“If it’s true (that Marseille will drop the match with Montpellier) that’s great,” Giroud was quoted as saying by France Football magazine.

“But I do not think they will drop the match, they still have a professional conscience. I do not know how it will turn out, we will see on the pitch.”

He continued: “It seems that Marseille fans would prefer to see Montpellier become champions rather than PSG.

“But there are still some matches to go before the end of the season. Nothing is decided.”