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Rooney comments spark Giroud speculation

Cape Town - Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud could be on his way to join Everton in January to increase his chances of making the France squad for the 2018 Soccer World Cup in Russia.

Giroud was said to be close to securing a move to the Toffees in the off-season as a direct replacement for Romelu Lukaku but rejected the transfer at the last minute.

Ronald Koeman suggested that the club's poor form at the start of the season that culminated to his eventual dismissal was down to the failed deal for the towering striker.

However, with Giroud only starting one Premier League game for the Gunners this season, the former Montpellier forward seems open for the second round of negotiations with the Merseyside club.

"I have the World Cup at the back of my mind weekly, almost daily." he told reporters last month "Each time I go onto the pitch, it’s to be more clinical and keep on track for the World Cup."

Wayne Rooney, who has been in scintillating form with 10 league goals so far, this season has spoken of his admiration of the 31-year-old when asked about his possible arrival.

"I think we could do with another striker in," Rooney told TalkSport. "The one player for me who has to start is Olivier Giroud. He scores goals and every time he comes on he scores, he's a handful and hard to play against.

"For me, if he starts games for Arsenal they are a better team."

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