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Turkish second-division newcomer Bursaspor has entered talks with French striker Olivier Giroud over a potential move ahead of next season, according to Turkish media reports.
The 39-year-old forward is expected to leave French Ligue 1 side Lille this summer when his contract expires and is now in talks with the Bursa-based club, which recently secured promotion.
Bursaspor officials have already held a video call with Giroud, while negotiations are currently paused due to the player’s salary demands, the reports noted. Club executives reportedly view the deal as a possible market opportunity but believe their current offer still falls short.
Giroud returned to Europe last summer after spending time with Los Angeles FC in the United States. Throughout his career, the experienced striker played for clubs including Arsenal and AC Milan.
The veteran forward was also part of France’s 2018 World Cup-winning squad and remains one of the national team’s most decorated attackers, with 137 appearances and 57 goals.
Despite his age, Giroud continues to draw attention with his performances, while reports have also linked him with a possible return to Milan.
According to Transfermarkt data, the striker’s current market value stands at €1 million ($1.2 million), while he reportedly earns €2.3 million at Lille under his current contract.
Bursaspor, one of Türkiye’s most historic provincial football clubs based in the northwestern city of Bursa, became nationally known after breaking the dominance of Istanbul’s traditional "Big Three" by winning the Super Lig title in the 2009-10 season.
After years in the top flight, the club went through a sharp decline amid financial troubles, transfer bans, and administrative instability.
Bursaspor was relegated from the Super Lig in 2019 and eventually dropped to the fourth tier in 2024, marking one of the steepest falls in modern Turkish football.
The club has recently started climbing back up. Bursaspor secured promotion from the fourth tier in 2025 before earning another promotion during the 2025-26 campaign to return to the TFF 1st League, Türkiye’s second division.
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