Antoine Griezmann is expected to become Manchester United's centrepiece signing during the upcoming summer transfer window, with a number of the current crop, including Frenchman Anthony Martial, to depart in order to make room for the Atletico Madrid forward.

With the number seven shirt already having been vacated by Memphis Depay, who joined Lyon this January, the Independent report that the Red Devils are ready to match the huge €100m (£86m) buy-out clause in the highly rated attacker's contract in order to bring him to Old Trafford as the next major move of Jose Mourinho's reshaping of the squad.

Over the past years, however, Man United have become the biggest spenders in world football, and their ever increasing wage bill is multiplying season by season, so much so that they are now wary of it.

Griezmann will only add to that dilemma, and hence the end is being signalled for a number of faces at Old Trafford to make room for his astronomical wage packet. Marouane Fellaini and Wayne Rooney are likely to be the first culled, however, talk of youngster Martial departing is also rife, with the winger having been unable to make the sort of impact at the club under Mourinho as he did during his first season.

Here at FFC we think what will effectively be a swap deal between the two Frenchman makes sense for Man United, and here are THREE reasons why...

More goals for Griezmann...

Up until their recent 3-0 victory over struggling champions Leicester City, Man United had been struggling for goals, and even Mourinho had admitted that the lack of potency was one of his side's major flaws this season. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been very much leading from the front in terms of goals this term, having scored 20 in all competitions already, however from elsewhere, there are few that need to show, especially in the Premier League.

Martial has scored a mere two this season in the league, six in all competitions, which is a poor return considering he scored 17 last term. Griezmann - who occupies a similar position to Martial - has 15 this season, and could help solve the problem at Man United.

Pogba/Griezmann bromance...

BM4L. Bessies. Baes. However you want to describe the relationship between Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba, there is no denying the obvious bromance between the pair, who both excelled for France together at the European Championship during the summer of 2016. The link-up play between the duo, who often boast their friendship on social media, was outstanding and one of the key reasons for Les Bleus' march to the final of the tournament.

Griezmann has previously stated that he would like to play alongside his international team-mate at club level in the future, saying he often asks his pal about life at Man United, Jose Mourinho and the other plays before saying: "it would be awesome to play alongside him one day."

Hint. Dropped.

Fee needed...

As previously mentioned, if Man United are indeed to sign Griezmann in the summer they are likely to have to pay €100m to activate his release clause, as well as his wages and potential fees to agents. That equates to circa £86m for the deal alone, which is an astronomical amount of money.

So, selling Martial would certainly help but a dent, and a hefty one at that, in the transfer fee for Griezmann. While his form hasn't been particularly brilliant, there will be many a club willing to pay for the undoubtedly talented youngster, and his signature will likely command a fee close to the massive fee (which is set to eventually reach almost £60m) they paid for him. Even if his sale were to pay for half of the Griezmann transfer, it would be a move worth making.