Manchester United ‘on verge of’ €100m Griezmann deal

Antoine Griezmann: Weather concerns

Antoine Griezmann’s transfer to Manchester United is “on the verge of completion”, according to one report.

The Manchester Evening News cite “sources close to the Frenchman” and suggest a deal is close and the transfer fee could be £86m.

That figure (€100million) is believed to be Griezmann’s release clause, although the official figure has not been made public.

The paper does not detail too many other facts regarding the transfer but they have gone big on the story, which is headlined: “Antoine Griezmann Manchester United transfer on verge of completion.”

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone seems resigned to seeing the France international leave the Spanish capital in the summer

When asked if Griezmann could leave in the summer, Simeone replied to AS: “Yes, because there is a termination clause. There is no security.”

Griezmann has continually played down the United talk in recent months but now “sources close to him believe a move to United is now a formality”.

The France international has scored 22 goals in 40 appearances this season and came third behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the latest Ballon d’Or.

The striker is believed to be Jose Mourinho’s top summer target and with Wayne Rooney set to move on United are on the lookout for a new striker and they will have around £260,000 a week freed up in wages.

Simeone also revealed Griezmann’s decision to stay last summer was down to the Atletico boss, Simeone added:

“Well, that’s what he told me: ‘If you stay, I’ll stay.’ And I said yes, that how I was not going to stay.

“And they began to work with the representatives for everything that had to be signed. And he stayed.”