Atletico hold firm as Manchester United look for Griezmann alternatives

On the back of a brace against Valencia and three goals in his last two games for Antoine Griezmann, along with a goal against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, Manchester United have started looking at other targets for the summer transfer window.

According to the Independent, Griezmann has been moved down the list of priorities with Robert Lewandowski and Kylian Mbappe moving ahead of the French striker. Mbappe is set to ignite a bidding war this summer, according to reports and given the difficulty any deal would be taking Griezmann out of Madrid, he might be seen as a more viable options for Jose Mourinho.

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Mourinho will still fight for Griezmann and wants him at Old Trafford, but Atletico Madrid are keen to keep the band together for one last year and one last crack at the Champions League and LaLiga provided they don’t win the former this year. They are battling it out for the fourth spot in LaLiga and have not been a title contender since a series of early setbacks put them well behind their rivals earlier in the season.

Atletico can not sign a replacement for Griezmann given their transfer ban and without Griezmann and no replacement, Atletico would struggle on all fronts given his importance to the team. Terms had been agreed between United and Griezmann but Atletico are holding firm, which will be music to rojiblanco fans as they roll the dice one last time in the Diego Simeone era.