Manchester United clearing the decks for Antoine Griezmann’s potential arrival?
Manchester United have been repeatedly linked to Antoine Griezmann over the past few days with the Red Devils claimed to be lining up a summer deal.
The Independent report United are ‘increasingly confident’ of a deal, and claim talks between intermediaries have been going on for months.
France’s Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring their first goal
Atletico Madrid would find it tough to resist a world record offer for Griezmann, who could link up with France international teammate Paul Pogba at Old Trafford.
United appear to be clearing the decks for a move, accumulating cash through selling Morgan Schneiderlin to Everton, and now freeing up an iconic squad number which Griezmann would surely receive.
The BBC report United have agreed a fee with French side Lyon to sell former PSV Eindhoven star Memphis Depay, who is currently the Red Devils’ number 7, who has barely featured this season.
Memphis Depay celebrates scoring against Luxembourg
The famous shirt once worn by George Best, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo has proved more of a curse in recent years, with Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia and now Memphis Depay struggling under the weight of expectation.
Griezmann could be different, as an already established superstar, and with Depay now departing, there will be no controversy about shifting players’ squad numbers about, as they had with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Anthony Martial this past summer.
United will not want the shirt to be vacant for long, and Griezmann currently seems like the most likely – and most expensive – candidate to fill it.
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