Manchester United are on the hunt for a new talisman following the mutual termination of legendary striker Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract last month, following an explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
United manager Erik ten Hag is considering swooping for Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann following the forward’s efforts at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he played a pivotal role in France’s surge towards a second successive final.
This is according to French outlet Mediafoot, who state that the Red Devils are positively desperate to land their man, who has been the essential cog in the Les Bleus system.
The report continues that United have held an interest in the player since 2017, increasing the attention on their man in the summer, with the player instead re-signing for Atletico from FC Barcelona.
Rashford connection
With United’s interest piqued and the cub boasting the financial wealth to strike a deal, the 117-cap French star could indeed find himself at the centre of a huge move to Old Trafford, with the likes of Marcus Rashford cashing in on a swoop.
The 25-year-old forward has been in fine form for club and country this term, scoring eight goals for United before clinching three goals with England at the World Cup.
Griezmann has scored six goals and served five assists across 21 appearances for the Madrid-based side, starting just 12 times, but has eclipsed that form at club level by rising to the occasion in Qatar with the French national team.
Indeed, as per Sofascore, the 31-year-old recorded a stunning rating of 7.7 at the World Cup, bettered by no one else in the France squad, not even World Cup final hat-trick hero Kylian Mbappe.
The starring role for the gem, deployed behind towering centre-forward Olivier Giroud, has left him and his nation to reap the rewards of his all-encompassing performances.
Starting six matches and providing three assists, Griezmann averaged 3.1 key passes per match, created seven big chances, completed 84% of his passes and averaged two tackles per showing.
It is this level of genius, the ubiquity in his presence as the roaming playmaker in front of the midfield anchors that has reignited the hype around his abilities.
At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where France clinched gold, Griezmann had a role of equally paramount importance, playing all seven matches, scoring four goals and providing two assists.
Should Ten Hag forge ahead with a move - the “phenomenon” - as dubbed by Ander Herrera would not come cheap, with this being a player who previously cost £107m in 2019.
However, with a major move away from Spain a prospect that would need to be acted upon swiftly with the player’s 32nd birthday arriving in March, his head may be turned by the idea of injecting his flair into the Premier League.
And Rashford’s skill-set could indeed entwine with Griezmann’s own, with the pair knitting creativity and direct assault seamlessly, a partnership to terrorise defences across Europe and potentially set United back on a route that has seldom been seen at Old Trafford in recent years; one of glory.