Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud could reportedly pursue a fresh challenge away from the Emirates in January, agent Michael Manuello has claimed. The France international has been sparingly used by Arsene Wenger in the Premier League with just one start during the course of the current campaign.

Speaking on FootMercato, Manuello hinted that his client could seek a fresh challenge in the New Year but a return to France is not on the player’s mind, he said: “Olivier will not come back to France. Unless there is a change in his state of mind, to date the intention is not to return to France. There has been no new approach from Marseille. I have no information that Marseille was trying to contact us. Now, depending on the offers, we will sit around a table and talk. The most important thing is to know what will be offered or not this winter, to find a better project.”

Giroud has found himself behind Alexandre Lacazette in the pecking order this campaign, and this could have a direct impact on his France spot with the latter being his international teammate. Despite his agent’s comments, Giroud is likely to stay put for the near future after he sustained a hamstring injury during the League Cup quarter-final versus West Ham United.

The problem is likely to see him sidelined until the final weeks of January at the least, and this could potentially work in the Gunners’ favour with Wenger reluctant to lose the Frenchman. West Ham United and Everton have been credited with an interest in the former Montpellier man, but the former are the most probable contenders to contest for the striker’s services owing to their close proximity to the Gunners.

Giroud turned down a move to Merseyside in the summer with his family settled in the English capital, and he is said to have a similar stance this month, although it means to ply his trade for a club lingering in the bottom half of the standings.