Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Face Fight from Spurs for French Goal Scoring Ace - Report

According to a report on ESPN, the chairman of French Ligue 1 club Montpellier, Louis Nicollin, is confident star striker Olivier Giroud will remain at the club, should they qualify for Champions League football next season.

Montpellier are currently having a stunning season in the domestic league. The club is atop Ligue 1, on goal difference, from cash-rich Paris St Germain. The two leading clubs have 60 points apiece from 29 games.

Much of Montpellier's success this season is because of Giroud, 25, and his exceptional form. The French international has an astonishing 18 goals in the league and leads the goal scorers' charts with PSG's Nene a distant second on 13 strikes.

Giroud's form has reportedly drawn the interest of Premier League clubs like Arsenal and Tottenham, with the Gunners being the most talked-about destination.

"If we play in the Champions League next season, I believe he will stay," Nicollin was quoted as saying by French newspaper L'Equipe, "When we signed him from Tours in 2010 it is like we won the lottery."

"If he stays at Montpellier he will give maximum effort. I can't offer him the same wages he could get elsewhere, but we haven't set a transfer fee and we haven't had any offers," he added.

However, Tottenham and Arsenal may also have to contend with interest from fellow Premier League club Aston Villa, according to a report in the Metro. To make matters more complicated, the report also suggests Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are interested.

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