Man Utd Open Talks With £60m Striker After Player Speaks Out On Arsenal Links

Managers are now making moves to try and strengthen their squads during the January transfer window or next summer so we’ll bring you all the latest gossip from around the globe. Today, more on the future of Antoine Griezmann….

Manchester United have opened talks with Antoine Griezmann over a potential £60m move just days after the Atletico Madrid striker spoke out amid reported interest from Arsenal, according to the Express.

Griezmann has become one of the best strikers in world football since moving to Atletico from Real Sociedad in 2014 and followed up a superb debut season by scoring 32 goals in all competitions for Diego Simeone’s side last campaign.

The 25-year-old continued his fine form in to Euro 2016 last summer where he scored six times to lead hosts France to the finals and he was later named as the Player of the Tournament.

The French international has struggled slightly this campaign with ‘just’ 9 goals and 6 assists in his 21 appearances so far but that hasn’t stopped rumours circulating linking him with a move away from the Vicente Calderon with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United among those credited with an interest.

Griezmann did little to dampen the speculation after revealing that Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny has been regularly trying to tempt his international colleague to join him in north London.

The striker praised the Gunners for their footballing style but insisted that he’s happy at Madrid and doesn’t see himself leaving any time soon.

Griezmann is quoted as saying by the Mirror earlier this week:

“For Arsenal, he [Koscielny] speaks to me about it often. But I’m good in Madrid. I don’t want to leave. I’m happy here,”

“I have just had a little girl, I play my games, I’m good. Sorry, I’m going to stay. But Arsenal are a good team, they play good football. I’m so good at Atletico. Honestly, I don’t see myself leaving.”

However, the player’s comments don’t appear to have put off Arsenal’s rivals Manchester United as reports today suggest that the Red Devils have now stepped up their interest in Griezmann.

The Express are citing a report from the Sun that claims Jose Mourinho is desperate to lure the striker to Old Trafford and United have now opened talks with a leading agent to try and broker a £60m deal.

United midfielder Paul Pogba could yet play an important role in any potential move as the report suggests that he’s spoken with Griemann to try and convince his close friend to follow him to Manchester next summer.

Any deal will be difficult as Griezmann is contracted with Madrid until 2021 after recently signing a new contract, however, it looks as though United are ready to test Altetico’s resolve over the coming months.

Obviously Griezmann would be a sensational signing for either Arsenal or United if they could somehow pull it off and I’d love to see a player of his caliber come to the Premier League.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

The French star is one of the few players in world football who has the potential to challenge the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi so it would be terrific to see him plying his trade here in England next season.

We’ll have to wait and see how things develop over the coming months and any potential deal is still a long way off but you’d have to say that United would be slight favourites over Arsenal to sign Griezmann if he did want to come to England simply due to their financial muscle.