ELBOW GRIEZ
Ant shoved aside as Jose turns to Lukaku
MANCHESTER UNITED have cooled their interest in Antoine Griezmann to focus on netting Romelu Lukaku.
United sources claim the club no longer aim to snap up a No.10 like France superstar Griezmann.
Instead, they have made signing a world-class No.9 their priority, with Lukaku (left) top of the list.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s knee injury, which has ruled him out until next year, has forced boss Jose Mourinho into a rethink.
Everton hitman Lukaku is now his No.1 target and United are ready to make a £85m swoop for the Belgian.
Real Madrid star Alvaro Morata, Torino’s Andrea Belotti and Monaco ace Kylian Mbappe are also options.
The fading interest in Griezmann comes after Atletico’s appeal against
their transfer ban was thrown out by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
They will not be able to sign players until January and United’s decision to go public on Griezmann could still turn out to be a bargaining tool aimed at forcing through the £86m deal.
But a club source said: “The priority now is not signing a No.10 but a top-class striker instead.
“Interest in Antoine Griezmann has cooled.”
Griezmann last night fuelled rumours he is ready to stay at Atletico when he posted a message on Twitter that read: “Now more than ever! #atleti #alltogether.”
United are prepared to break the bank to land Lukaku in an £85m deal that would see off any interest Chelsea may have in taking him back to Stamford Bridge.
A United source told Starsport: “The manager has been forced into a rethink and has made it clear he wants Lukaku at United.
“The club’s board are right behind him in the transfer market and will do everything in their power to give him what he wants.
“If this means going head-to-head with Chelsea and Roman Abramovich, then so be it, because the manager wants some more marquee signings.”
United are hoping a long-term deal worth around £250,000 a week will lure Lukaku, 23, who has snubbed a new and improved offer at Everton.
Chelsea sold Lukaku to the Toffees in 2013 for £28m.
Blues boss Antonio Conte, who is also keen on Morata, must now weigh up whether to fight it out with Mourinho.
And the Italian may find he has less space for a new striker, with any summer return to Atletico for Diego Costa no longer a possibility.