Griezmann shock
Mystery as United pull out of £87m deal for French striker
Manchester United’s transfer plans have taken a twist, with the club cooling their long-standing interest in France striker Antoine Griezmann to focus their efforts on signing a target man to replace the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, Torino’s Andrea Belotti, and Alvaro Morata, of Real Madrid, are among the No 9s under consideration after United opted against triggering the €100 million (£87 million) release clause in Griezmann’s contract with Atlético Madrid.
News that United are now prioritising a direct replacement for Ibrahimovic, who suffered a cruciate knee injury against Anderlecht on April 20 that has raised doubts about his future at Old Trafford, filtered out barely an hour after Atlético had a transfer ban upheld that will prevent them from registering new players this summer.
It was thought that United wanted a new, physical No9 in addition to Griezmann, whom they had been pursuing for months, in the wake of Ibrahimovic’s injury and only last week senior sources at Old Trafford were indicating that the Atlético forward remained a target. But the clear indications from sources close to the club yesterday were that priorities had changed in the six weeks since Ibrahimovic’s long-term lay-off.
Those same sources said United retained an interest in Griezmann and would not rule out a move for him in the future.
Yet Atlético have been trying to tie Griezmann to a new contract in recent weeks and the Spanish club may now opt to invest money they cannot spend on signings in a new lucrative deal for the Frenchman. Griezmann has delivered a series of mixed messages in recent weeks, with threats to leave Atlético followed by pledges to stay. Last night, he appeared to signal his commitment to the club by tweeting: “Now more than ever #Atleti #Todosjuntos [all together]”.
Jose Mourinho, the United manager, is desperate to bolster his attack after frequently bemoaning his side’s profligacy but moves for Lukaku, Belotti and Morata are fraught with complications.
Everton are demanding a worldrecord £100 million fee for Lukaku, 24, and have a history of getting premium prices for their players. United also face stiff competition from Chelsea, who want to re-sign the Belgium striker three years after selling him to the Merseyside club for £28million.
Mourinho was in charge of Chelsea
at the time but is thought to admire Lukaku, who scored 26 goals for Everton last season, and could attempt to use Wayne Rooney as a makeweight in any deal.
Belotti, 23, has shone in Italy this season, with 27 goals in 32 games for Torino. But the Italy striker has a €100million buyout clause, which is a huge sum for a player who remains largely unproven. AC Milan are believed to be leading the chase for Spain striker Morata.
Ibrahimovic has expressed a desire to stay at Old Trafford and Mino Raiola, the Swede’s agent, told The Daily Telegraph yesterday that his client may not be out for as long as many expect but where a move for a direct replacement would leave Ibrahimovic – out of contract this month – is unclear.
Meanwhile, talk has resurfaced about Gareth Bale’s future at Real Madrid amid the Spanish club’s interest in Monaco sensation Kylian Mbappé and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. Real ideally want to sell James Rodríguez to help fund a move but they are having trouble offloading the Colombia forward at the price they want.
United have tried and failed to sign Bale in the past.
Reports in Portugal last night claimed United were closing in on a £35 million deal for Benfica and Sweden centre-half Victor Lindelof.