Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann and Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt have been summer transfer targets for Barcelona.
Earlier this week, Diego Simeone’s side confirmed the France international has decided to leave the club after this season, it was then reported in France and Spain that Paris Saint-Germain had entered the race in signing him.
On the front page of Thursday’s edition of Mundo Deportivo, it’s claimed the Blaugrana are in ‘pole’ position for the forward and the defender, but there’s ‘still no agreement’ to complete the two transfers.
The World Cup winner’s release clause will drop from €200m to €120m on July 1st and Mundo states: ‘His class, effectiveness, experience, capacity and sacrifice make him a clear target for that price.’
Barcelona’s contacts with Griezmann have been through third parties and so far, there has been no agreement to bring him to the Camp Nou.
L’Equipe said on Wednesday that his sister Maud, who is also his agent, met PSG, ‘something that squeaked in the noble area’ of the Catalan club.
Barca were ready to offer Griezmann a salary of €16m per season last summer, but he turned it down to stay with Los Rojiblancos.
Mundo explains Ernesto Valverde’s side are interested, but will not move from the economic parameters of last year.
Moving on to De Ligt, a delegation of the highest level from the club already met the 19-year-old and his agent Mino Raiola in Amsterdam last week. The outcome of the meeting suggested the centre-back was ‘not so convinced’ for two reasons.
The Netherlands international is not sure of having a leading role at Barca and already has a better economic offer from other clubs.
