The summer transfer window at the end of the season might be more exciting than the one last year as a number of clubs are ready to break the bank to land some of the biggest players in Europe and are ready to pay record money for their top transfer targets this summer.
Out of the number of stars that might be on the move this summer, one player who is sure to attract a lot of interest is French international Antoine Griezmann.
Standing as one of the best finishers in the world at the moment, Griezmann has been in sublime form at the Vicente Calderon this season and is hoping to help his side into the last-4 of the Champions League.
Atletico Madrid have little chance of winning the La Liga this season and with Diego Simeone not sure of his future at the club, Griezmann may be on the move at the end of the season.
A number of clubs, including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are all scouting for him but for the first team since the saga, the player’s representative has spoken out.
Eric Olhats who took Griezmann under his wing just last season after the 25-year old broke off contact with his previous agent one year ago, has today come out and spoke about the chances of his colleague shifting clubs this summer.
Talking to Spanish newspaper RMC, Olhats revealed that there has been a contact from a number of European clubs recently who are ready to pay anything for Griezmann’s services next season.
“Chelsea, Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid wanted to find out what the situation is. Everyone comes to find out if it’s do-able (the signing) or not,” he explained to RMC.
Reports recently went on to suggest that Manchester United and Real Madrid have taken the first step for his signature and that they have made an official approach for his signature.
But Olhats disregarded all such rumours and revealed that there has not been any contact with the player or his representative, yet, over a move at the end of the season.
Olhats went on to reveal that Griezmann has a release clause close to €100m but said that there are a few clubs who are ready to splash the cash.
“The release clause price (100 million euros) rules out a lot of the candidates because (Atletico) won’t make any concessions. There aren’t many clubs that can put that much money on the table,” Olhats explained.
However, he did conclusively reveal that Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid’s local rivals, have no chance of landing him this summer.
Olhats explained that the two teams have an agreement not to try and lure players out of their clubs across the town.
These comments from the agent were backed up by the player himself, who revealed that a move to Real Madrid is not feasible for him in the future.
Speaking to the media recently, Griezmann revealed that he could be up for a move in the future but completely ruled out joining the Bernabeu in his career.
‘I cannot say yes or no, otherwise I will be in the sh**,’ he said when asked about a move to Real Madrid.
‘You never know what will happen in football but jumping from Atletico to Real, I do not think it is very feasible.
‘Very, very few players have done that, so I think it is dead [the idea],’ he added.
These comments from Griezmann will boost Ateltico’s chances of keeping him at the club and according to reports from AS, they are in no mood to let him leave easily.
The report suggests that the Spanish side are ready to offer Griezmann a bumper offer with a huge improvement on his current wages.
Atletico Madrid are now ready to sanction a pay rise of €3 million per year which would see would see Griezmann improve his salary to €10m annually.
Surely, Antoine Griezmann will be a busy name this transfer window.