Manchester City have reportedly joined Barcelona and neighbours Manchester United in the race to sign Antoine Griezmann next summer.
According to a report by Spanish publication Sport, Manchester City are interested in signing Antoine Griezmann. The Premier League heavyweights have joined Barcelona and neighbours Manchester United in the race to sign the Atletico Madrid forward, setting up a three-way tussle for his signature.
Griezmann’s career has been on a consistently upward trajectory ever since he joined Atletico Madrid from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2014. Over the last three years, he has made 173 appearances for Los Rojiblancos, with an impressive record of 86 goals and 28 assists making him one of the most highly sought-after players.
In fact, the player was involved in a transfer saga that almost saw him join Manchester United in the summer before he decided to commit to Atletico Madrid after their transfer ban was upheld.
Manchester City are one of the clubs to have contacted representatives of Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann (26), who has a €100m release clause. Barcelona, Man United and Bayern Munich are also interested. [SPORT] pic.twitter.com/MC1xFD3kFN
— City Watch (@City_Watch) November 16, 2017
So far, Griezmann has 13 outings across all competitions for the La Liga heavyweights, but has only found the back of the net thrice. There have been suggestions that the France international is unsettled at Wanda Metropolitano, which would suggest the gulf in form for club and country in this campaign.
Griezmann will reportedly call time on his stint at Atletico Madrid when the summer transfer window opens next July. And going by the report by Sport, he will have three clubs vying for his signature – Barcelona, Manchester United and Manchester City.
Barcelona, like Manchester United, have been in pursuit of Griezmann since the recently concluded summer transfer window, having shortlisted him as one of the replacement options for Neymar. The Catalan club have remained in pursuit of the player, having continued talks over a possible move.
With Luis Suarez’s form taking a tumble over the last few months, the Frenchman is a viable target to reinforce their attack. Meanwhile, Manchester United’s interest in the 26-year-old is well documented, and the Premier League outfit have not ended their pursuit of the player just yet.
Antoine Griezmann has been involved in 27 LaLiga goals since 2016/17; more than any Atletico player.
18 goals ⚽️
9 assists ?️Star boy. pic.twitter.com/pGpShvjEQ6
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) October 9, 2017
According to widespread suggestions though, Jose Mourinho’s preference is to sign a winger first before making other reinforcements in attack, making Griezmann a backup option for now. And another club have joined the pursuit of the player, with Manchester City initiating talks with him as well.
The interest from the Citizens does come as a bit of a surprise as they are also eyeing a move for Alexis Sanchez, notwithstanding the gamut of options that Pep Guardiola already has at his disposal.
Manchester City seem to be keeping Griezmann as a possible option for next summer, and are prepared to pay his €100 million release clause, just like Manchester United and Barcelona, although the report suggests that he will only take a definitive call on his next destination after March.
For now, Griezmann is only a backup option to Philippe Coutinho for Barcelona. Should the Blaugrana fail in their pursuit of the Brazilian, they will be better placed to sign the Frenchman, and it remains to be seen if they beat both the Manchester clubs to his signature next summer.
