Barcelona have received encouragement in their ongoing pursuit of Antoine Griezmann and the Atletico Madrid forward ‘agrees on the basics’ of joining the La Liga winners in the summer transfer window, according to Catalan claims on Tuesday.
The France international has a €100m release clause in his contract at Wanda Metropolitano. The Catalan club have long been interested in the attacker and are keen on adding him to their squad for the 2018/19 season.
Atletico are aware of growing interest from Ernesto Valverde’s side in signing their star player. According to Mundo Deportivo, the Spanish capital club are looking at the option of handing a new deal to Griezmann, which will see his wages improve and also have a higher release clause.
However, that may unlikely to happen at this stage as he is reportedly expected to join the La Liga winners. Griezmann’s potential arrival could see Ousmane Dembele drop down the pecking order at Barcelona, behind Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
The 20-year-old Frenchman arrived in Spain from Borussia Dortmund last summer for a fee of €145m including bonuses.
Dembele has struggled in his debut season at Barcelona and Griezmann’s signing would see his first team appearances being limited. Should the 27-year-old France international swap Atletico for Camp Nou, the Madrid outfit could make an approach in signing the ex-Bundesliga forward.
Diego Simeone is an admirer of Dembele and the Atletico manager believes the attacker could do well, if he joins them. They are not the only club to have shown interest in the Barcelona forward, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Arsenal are also believed to be interested in signing the Frenchman. However, Arsene Wenger’s decision to step down as the Gunners manager after the end of the 2017/18 season has put any potential approach on hold.
Liverpool are also monitoring Dembele as they have identified him as a player to replace Mohamed Salah, if the Egyptian international leaves the Merseyside club for Real Madrid.
However, Barcelona are unwilling to let Dembele leave after spending heavily on him in 2017. The Spanish champions’ technical secretary Robert Fernandez is unwilling to sanction his sale in the summer, even if he sees his first team appearances limited if Griezmann arrives at Camp Nou.
