Manchester City are plotting a sensational move to bring Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann to the Premier League next summer. According to recent reports, the Citizens are prepared to clash heads with Barcelona in pursuit of the French international’s signature when the summer transfer window opens at the end of the season.
The La Liga was heavily linked with a move to the Nou Camp in recent months and now, City manager Pep Guardiola is ready to join in on the hunt for the player’s services this summer. The Premier League champions-elect are preparing a massive move which will include paying Griezmann’s €100m (£87m) release clause and Sergio Aguero going to the Wanda Metropolitano as part of a blockbuster player-plus-cash swap deal. It is believed that the Argentine forward is close to ending his long and successful stay at the Etihad Stadium by returning to his old club this summer.
Some sources have recently claimed that the Manchester outfit are hoping to convince Atletico Madrid by offering Aguero plus cash to try and tip the scales in their favour. However, the Catalans won’t give up without a fight and remain City’s biggest competitor in the race to secure Griezmann’s services this summer. It is also being reported that the Frenchman favours a move to the Nou Camp but his club will consider selling him to a foreign club and not risk strengthening one of their direct rivals.
The Citizens are firmly in the pole position as they look to earn another league title at the top tier of English football with an amazing 16 point lead over their bitter rivals Manchester United.
Pep Guardiola’s team are still taking part in two separate competitions and have already secured the Carabao Cup last month. They have also progressed to the final 8 of the UEFA Champions League having managed to get a 5-2 aggregate victory over FC Basel earlier in March. They will now face off versus Liverpool over two legs for a place in the final 4 of Europe’s premier cup competition.
The addition of Griezmann will undoubtedly bolster Pep Guardiola’s attacking options going into the new campaign as they look to maintain their dominance in both domestic and European football. The Macon-born forward has featured in 38 matches for Atletico Madrid this season, scoring 23 goals while providing 13 assists in all competitions. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of Griezmann and whether he ends up making a switch to the Premier League in the near future.
