Arsenal agree 12.8m deal for Giroud

English club Arsenal have reportedly agreed to sign highly rated French forward Olivier Giroud on a deal worth 12.8 million pounds from French champions Montpellier.

Giroud, who has two years remaining on his Montpellier contract, has agreed a 45,000 pounds-a-week four-year deal, which will almost treble his current wages of around 15,000 pounds-a-week.

The 25-year-old, who is currently playing for the national squad at the Euro 2012 is expected to confirm the deal once the tournament ends.

Giroud, who scored 21 goals in Montpellier's league triumph to end the campaign as France's equally leading scorer with PSG's Nene, is viewed as an replacement for out of favour Marouane Chamakh.

This will be the London's club second signing after agreeing a deal with former Cologne striker Lukas Podolski. Arsenal are also trying to secure a three-year contract extension for their captain Robin van Persie.

Van Persie's representatives have held two rounds of talks with Arsenal, when the 28-year-old said he was not ready to sign new terms.