Report: Spurs suffer blow in hunt for striker, would take extraordinary change of circumstance

Any hopes which Tottenham Hotspur may have had of bringing Olivier Giroud back to North London look to be over.

The Athletic’s David Ornstein claims that Chelsea have failed in their efforts to find a replacement for the French international who will now in turn remain at Stamford Bridge until the summer.

Giroud has since arrived at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground to report for today’s session as planned.

The Sun reported earlier that Spurs and Chelsea had agreed on a fee for the 33-year-old but wanted to complete a deal for Napoli’s forward Dries Mertens before allowing Giroud to depart.

Tottenham have been seeking the services of a target man since Harry Kane tore his left hamstring on New Year’s Day in the defeat at Southampton but now appear as if they will have to focus their attention elsewhere.

Giroud has found himself having to settle for limited game time with Frank Lampard instead preferring to utilise the services of Tammy Abraham and Michy Batshuayi.