In what could be a huge news for Emirates faithful, ARSENAL are set to take on Manchester United for Antoine Griezmann, according to reports in Daily Mail.
The Frenchman is a hot property right now, with Manchester United and Inter among the teams chasing him.
Griezmann, who helped carry France to the finals of Euro 2016, is considered one of the best players in the world and was recently voted the third best player in the world behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
United are interested in signing the France international, with Jose Mourinho keen to make him Red Devil’s marquee signing next summer and Paul Pogba reportedly calling him daily to join him at Old Trafford.
Reports over the weekend claimed Griezmann has already agreed on a wage and the No.7 shirt number ahead of his move to the Red Devils. But the Gunners, who failed to lure Griezmann, 25, to the Emirates last summer, have not given up in their bid to sign him.
The North London club were fully aware of the striker’s £85m release clause and were said to have made a concrete offer but were rebuffed by Griezman who instead choose to sign a new contract until 2021 although Arsene Wenger had asked to be kept informed about any possible moves regarding the Frenchman
Reports now state that the Gunners are ready to match up with United in their bid for the third best player in the World and are ready to pay up his release clause.
It is thought the Red Devils would offer Griezmann more money than Arsenal, though the Gunners are prepared to stump up more than £250,000-a-week on a player of his caliber something they have yet to do with the likes of Ozil and Sanchez.
Atletico boss Diego Simeone has also recently revealed he would not attempt to block a move for star striker Griezmann saying:
“I don’t tie anybody down. I simply work in order to continue getting better for the good of the club.
He [Griezmann] is in an extraordinary moment, he is working well, he has got back on the scoresheet. He is currently in great form and it’s normal that the top clubs in the world want him.
“I’m not surprised that those that can afford him are seeking him.”
The 25-year-old committed the next five years to Atletico as recently as last June and all possibility of trying to sign him depends on the Spanish club conceding that now is their best time to cash in on him given their massive requirements of cash influx for building their new stadium La Peineta.
United clearly have an upper hand in trying to lure the Frenchman to Old Trafford with the help of his brother from the French National team, that being said so we do have a manager who has the record of getting the best French players plying their trade for him over the last two decades and a couple of French internationals in the form of Koscielny and Giroud who are also trying to get in his ears in order to convince him of a move to the Emirates.
Griezmann is the mystery marquee player whom Wenger tried to sign last summer in search of his new striker but eventually ended with buying Lucas Perez near the end of the window after having spent most of the window trying to buy us a world class striker something which Griezmann clearly is.
Third best player in the world and something closest to Messi or Ronaldo that we can get ourselves, having him in the team clearly would be an inspirational signing something which Wenger will definitely try to get if Griezmann decides to be on the move and will not let him move elsewhere without putting up a fight.
He is a player whom clearly Wenger rates and would love to have and is definitely willing to splash the cash on as media likes to say. If Griezmann is open to the idea of moving Wenger will definitely love to get his hands on him.
Till then COYG !!!!
