The January transfer window hasn’t even opened yet but Manchester United are already putting the wheels in motion for a potentially massive transfer to take place next summer.
Not content with splashing out on Paul Pogba, Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan last summer, it looks like the Red Devils are set to open their chequebook again to entice another major star to Old Trafford.
According to The Sun, Jose Mourinho has told club officials that their next priority must be signing a No. 10 who can link up play between midfield and attack to bring the best out of both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Pogba.
And they aren’t wasting any time. The same report in the British tabloid claims that the Red Devils have not only picked their desired target but actually opened talks with the player.
The Sun understand Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann is the subject of Man United’s pursuit and believe they have asked a leading agent to negotiate a deal for the striker.
The La Liga star has been touted with a switch to the Premier League over the last 12 months and his relationship has reportedly deteriorated with manager Diego Simeone could potentially open the door to a transfer at the end of this season.
Griezmann is still contracted to Atletico until 2021, though, which means United are likely to pay a figure in excess of £60 million to secure his signature.
But many will argue that any fee in that ballpark would be justified for a player who finished behind only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the Ballon d’Or last week.
The 25-year-old has proven himself to be a consistent goalscorer by striking 44 times during the previous two campaigns and has already found the back of the net on six occasions this term.
Only earlier this week Griezmann claimed he was happy to stay at Atletico but if this latest update is to be believed, questions about his future are likely to intensify in the coming months.
“I’m feeling good at Atletico Madrid,” Griezmann said in an interview with France Football, as per Goal.
“Frankly, I don’t see myself leaving. People often talk about England, but I’m here.
“And then, going from Atletico to Real, it must be difficult. I do not necessarily want to try. I don’t think about it.”