Manchester United are considering a surprise move to sign Atletico Madrid and France star Antoine Griezmann, according to reports.
Griezmann has been one of the top performers at the World Cup in Qatar, playing every game for France as they progressed to the final of the tournament, which takes place later on Sunday.
The 29-year-old has operated primarily in an attacking midfield role for Didier Deschamps' side, but his ability to drop deep and roam around the pitch has caused opposition teams huge problems.
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The tournament has arguably represented somewhat of a renaissance for Griezmann, who struggled to make a huge impact at Barcelona after a big-money move, before returning to Atletico last year. He does have five goals and three assists in 14 La Liga appearances this season.
Major headlines surrounding the Frenchman during the campaign have been based around a clause in his loan deal that meant boss Diego Simeone was only playing him for 30 minutes per game.
He is now a permanent Atletico player, and will soon return to his club side following the conclusion of the final.
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But there could be heavy interest in the 29-year-old in January, with United reportedly preparing a move.
Man Utd keen on Griezmann?
According to French outlet MediaFoot, Griezmann is being considered by Erik ten Hag as a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, who officially departed the club last month.
They claim that United approached the French star in the summer, anticipating an exit from Ronaldo at that point in time. But the Portuguese icon eventually stayed at Old Trafford, with the opportunity to sign Griezmann now once again opening up.
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MediaFoot also claim that the player's value will have increased as a result of his performances in Qatar, with Atletico signing him for a fee believed to be around €40 million earlier in the year.
As per Transfermarkt, his current value stands at just €25m, although it is expected that the France international will command a higher fee, given he has 18 months left on his Atletico contract.
The future of Joao Felix may also depend on whether Griezmann stays or goes, with Simeone potentially not wanting to lose two of his star attackers in the same window.
Felix has also attracted interest from United, although esteemed journalist Gianluca Di Marzio claims he would command a fee of around €130-140m, and wants to join PSG.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Manchester United, Premier League, La Liga, Atletico Madrid, Transfers, France, Football World Cup