Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has revealed that he nearly joined Tottenham in the January transfer window.
The 33-year-old had been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge after struggling for regular game time.
But the World Cup winner earned a recall to Frank Lampard's first team and cemented his place in the Blues' starting line-up towards the end of last season.
And Giroud, who joined Chelsea from Arsenal in 2018, has now explained that he almost left the Blues for bitter rivals Spurs, such was his desperation for first team football.
"During the last three days of the transfer window, I was in the coach's office to find a solution. I was hoping Chelsea would find a replacement for me," he told So Foot.
"For my part, it was not the solutions that were lacking: I almost signed for Lazio, Inter… I was even so determined to leave that I even almost signed for Tottenham!"
Giroud faces a fresh challenge for his place this campaign, with Chelsea signing Timo Werner from RB Leipzig in the summer.
The Germany international started for the Blues in their first Premier League clash of the season against Brighton and won a penalty as Lampard's side won 3-1 at the AMEX Stadium.
Despite Werner's arrival, Giroud says the pair are very different players and so could accommodate each other.
"I haven't spoken to Lampard [about playing time]," Giroud told Telefoot last week .
"One thing is certain: the competition [in the squad] will pull us all to the top. A great club should have different options in each position.
"We want to be in the race for the title and I'm here. I finished the season well and I proved to the manager that he can count on me.
"Werner is not the same profile as me, I hope to have some playing time."
