Olivier Giroud has sent Jose Mourinho and Tottenham Hotspur a message amid reports the Chelsea striker wishes to leave Stamford Bridge this January.

What’s the word?

According to Calciomercato, Inter Milan have moved into pole position ahead of clubs like Spurs in the emerging race to lure Giroud away from south west London in the winter market.

Giroud’s future at Stamford Bridge has become increasingly uncertain after the 34-year-old conceded he may have to seek a move away after falling down the pecking order, with the arrival of Timo Werner and form of Tammy Abraham threatening his place in Didier Deschamps’s France squad for next summer’s postponed UEFA European Championship.

Inter were keen to strike a deal with Chelsea this summer after Giroud struggled to establish himself during Frank Lampard’s maiden campaign at the helm, but the attacker ultimately stayed only to enjoy similar struggles with just 178 minutes played across all competitions this term.

Antonio Conte is now considering reviving the Nerazzurri’s advances with his side ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami, West Ham and Spurs in the emerging race for Giroud’s signature.

Giroud is concerned by his outcast status at Stamford Bridge and has accepted that he may have to search for a new side when the market opens in the New Year.

“It's worrying. I thought I still had a role to play at Chelsea, but my playing time is getting reduced a lot. It's going to have to change or a decision must be made,” Giroud told Telefoot, via Goal.

“I am clear-headed about my situation: I will have to make a decision in January. I hope to make the right one, as I have always done.”

Giroud sent Jose a message

With Tottenham said to be interested in a deal for Giroud this winter, Mourinho and the Spurs hierarchy will have been buoyed to see the Frenchman send them a message during Chelsea’s Champions League victory over Stade Rennais on Tuesday night.

The 105-cap international came off the bench to prove he is still capable of delivering a vital impact in games, despite being restricted to only one start this season, as he netted a 91st-minute winner to seal Chelsea’s progression through to the knockout stages.

Lampard, who has previously lauded Giroud for being a “big character”, was mightily impressed by the striker’s impactful cameo at Rennes, telling reporters after the game how his strike underlines why Chelsea wish to retain him.

“Yes, it does, and I’ve felt it first-hand, last year it was him or Tammy fighting for the number nine spot. Tammy had a great first half of the season, and then Oli in restart was fantastic,” Lampard said, via quotes by talkSPORT.

“And the things behind the scenes, everybody kind of feels from the outside what a great professional he is and how highly-regarded he is by his teammates and myself. He’s getting better with age, if anything, in terms of how he looks after himself.”

But with Giroud uncertain over to what extent he can expect to feature at Chelsea, his performance sent a message to Spurs – and the other clutch of interested sides – that he can still offer value and end product at a time Mourinho has only seen two of his players net more than once in the Premier League this term.

AND in other news, an £80k-p/w Spurs man’s struggles may have re-opened the door for a “perfect” outcast to return.