Atlético in talks with Griezmann over improved contract

Atlético Madrid are in negotiations with Antoine Griezmann over a new deal, which could put talk a transfer to bed until next summer at least.

The original report from El País indicates that Atlético plan to boost Griezmann’s salary to €10 million per year, while AS reports that Atlético are also looking to increase Griezmann’s €100 million buyout clause and extend him past 2021.

Much has been made about that buyout clause and the number of possible suitors who have been scared off by the figure. Atlético increasing it would be important, particularly ahead of this summer’s stadium switch.

The club, of course, are set to move to La Peineta, or the Wanda Metropolitano, next season and are in a phase of building again. Diego Simeone looks set to stay for one more year and a new Griezmann deal would help entice summer signings (provided they are allowed to come with an appeal of the transfer ban in the works) and it would also give Atlético an advantage as they look to compete on all fronts next season.

On Saturday morning, L’Equipe announced that Griezmann was a primary target for Real Madrid in that club’s quest to ease the aging process of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is now 32. They referred to it as “the secret plan” and would execute it in the summer of 2018. Griezmann himself said he would not rule out a move to Real Madrid but insisted he was happy at Atletico. He went on to score at the Bernabéu a Saturday and put a dent in Real’s title hopes before Barcelona capitulated against Málaga that night, leaving Real in the driving seat once again.

Atlético have a pact of non-agression with Real when it comes to signing players from their rivals and a new deal would be a big blow to los blancos’ already very slim chances of signing him.