Arsene Wenger blocked Lyon's move for Olivier Giroud, says club president Jean-Michel Aulas

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed that Arsene Wenger blocked his move to bring Olivier Giroud to Ligue 1 from Arsenal.

As Standard Sport revealed earlier this month Giroud is set to stay at Arsenal for the time being and try to challenge record signing Alexandre Lacazette for the role of starting striker at the Emirates.

Arsenal boss Wenger confirmed as much as the Gunners returned from their pre-season tour of Australia and China, saying that Giroud was "on [his] back, wanting to play".

Lyon had hinted they wanted Giroud as part of the £52million deal that took Lacazette to north London but Aulas has confirmed that Wenger, who is battling to retain Alexis Sanchez, would not sanction the departure of the striker.

"I wanted to sign him," Aulas told Le Progress. "But Arsene Wenger would not sell him... We still have superb young attackers."

It is understood that West Ham pulled out of the race to sign Giroud as they believed that the 30-year-old planned to remain in London whilst Marseille have also admitted defeat in their pursuit of the French international.

Everton remain in the market for the Arsenal forward, who would replace new Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku, but it remains to be seen whether Giroud would be willing to move to Merseyside.