According to Football. London, Chelsea have triggered Olivier Giroud’s contract clause by extending his deal for one more year amid reports the club’s transfer ban appeal could be upheld by the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS).

The Blues currently face the prospect of not signing players for the next two windows unless CAS overrule FIFA decision. But with confusion still surrounding what CAS decision may be, the Blues are trying to keep hold some of their players and that includes Giroud.

The France international contract with the Blues expires this summer but Chelsea have the option of extending it for a year.  Giroud revealed early this season he could leave the club if his situation under Sarri does not improve.

Although he has been a regular for the Blues in the Europa League, the former Arsenal star has played little part in Chelsea’s Premier League campaign. Sarri confirmed last month Chelsea would trigger a 12-month extension clause in Giroud’s contract.

And that seemed to have put the two men on a collision course as the French striker wanted to keep his options open. The Blues hitman, who scored 12 goals last season, complained about the role he had played at Stamford Bridge.

Nice and Marseille had both expressed an interest in signing Giroud, who had at times this season expressed his frustration with the limited first-team opportunities available to him.

“Next year I will need to have a more important role to play,” he said last month. “The most important thing for me is to be happy on the pitch, to enjoy the game and to have more minutes.  “I’m a competitor. I really want to play more. The thing is, I just want to enjoy it, because I’m 32 and I’ve won the World Cup, but I want to retire satisfied.”

Though it remains to be seen exactly what role Giroud will have in the coming season the Blues can ill afford to be without a Premier League veteran at a time when their ability to sign new players is far from clear.

FIFA have banned Chelsea from making signings for two windows and the Blues are expected to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Meanwhile, Eden Hazard fears the ban might scupper his £100m dream Real Madrid move.

Being potentially unable to spend the cash the Belgian’s transfer would bring in, Chelsea are even considering keeping their star for the final year of his contract – before losing him on a free in 2020.