MANCHESTER UNITED, Arsenal and Liverpool have been put on red alert over the sudden availability of £108million striker Antoine Griezmann.
The France World Cup winner could well become the biggest casualty of the Lionel Messi U-turn.
Antoine Griezmann could be the fall guy of Lionel Messi’s decision to stay at Barcelona this seasonCredit: EPA
Messi was set to leave Barca and join Manchester City this summer – but after talks with the club opted to see out the remaining year of his deal.
And now that could mean Griezmann is shipped out, just over a year after his multi-million move from LaLiga rivals Atletico Madrid.
The pair struggled to form a cohesive partnership last term.
New Barca boss Ronald Koeman is already looking at a £17m deal for his Dutch compatriot, Lyon striker Memphis Depay.
Griezmann had urged Messi to stay at Barcelona before the Argentine’s U-turn.
But it seems that behind the scenes there are plans to offload the Frenchman to spark up a Barca attack which flattered to deceive last term.
He does have a £720m release clause in his contract, but it is unlikely Barca will get more than what they paid for him 14 months ago.
Griezmann had been told he would be handed the Messi role if the South American left.
It could see youngsters 17-year-old Ansu Fati and £124m winger Ousmane Dembele come back into the equation as Koeman looks for answers without spending huge amounts on a new frontman.
It is the start of a huge rebuild for Koeman.
Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic has already quit for Sevilla, with striker Luis Suarez close to joining Juventus.
Philippe Coutinho is ready to move back to the Premier League either on loan or permanently after failing to make an impression in his two seasons at the Nou Camp.
The sale of Griezmann would give Koeman cash to reinforce Barca’s weakest point – the defence.
Champions Liverpool have been quiet in the transfer market this summer but the possibility of getting a cut-price Griezmann could force their hand.
United likewise could turn their attention to Griezmann as a cheaper alternative to Borussia Dortmund attacker Jadon Sancho, priced at £110m.
The Red Devils have been linked with Griezmann in the past.
Messi, 33, was all set to leave the Nou Camp a month ago.
But Barca chiefs played hardball with a £630m release clause which they claimed was still active.
However, the six-time Ballon d’Or winner admitted the toughest thing for him was when he told his children they would be leaving – with his sons bursting into tears.
City could still go back in for the Argentine in January but he is very likely to see out the last year of his contract.
Messi has confirmed that he will stay at Barcelona
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
