'Arsenal want to keep Oliver Giroud', claims Lyon club president

Lyon have ended their pursuit of Olivier Giroud, claiming Arsenal want to keep the striker.

The Ligue 1 outfit completed the signing of Chelsea forward Bertrand Traore for £8.8million on Monday, signalling the end of their interest in Giroud.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas had previously confirmed talks had taken place with Giroud, though the striker still retained hope of being the Gunners' first-choice striker next season.

"Arsenal want to keep [Giroud]," Aulas told reporters at Traore's unveiling. "We don’t want to stockpile forwards."
Giroud is understood to be a target for West Ham, with a £20m price tag previously being placed on the 30-year-old's head.

Aulas said on Saturday: "He told me personally that he wanted to take his time, that things were not completely defined with Arsenal, that he had a secret hope that he would be the number one striker next season.
"The key is Arsene Wenger. We are watching. We will try to very quickly sign a top European attacker."