Barcelona could beat Manchester United to £88million transfer through smart swap deal

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This could be a real blow to United’s transfer plans.

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid could reportedly be open to a swap deal that would spell very bad news for Manchester United and their summer transfer plans.

According to ESPN, United have been weighing up making a new bid for Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann at the end of the season, having also shown an interest in him during the summer just gone.

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However, it is little surprise to see Griezmann has suitors elsewhere, with Don Balon now claiming Barcelona could be in a strong position to win the race for his signature.

The Catalan giants are reportedly keen to offer a player to Altetico in return to bring Griezmann’s price tag down from his £88million release clause.

And luckily for them, Atletico boss Diego Simeone is said to be keen on Sergi Roberto, with Don Balon naming him as the one player the Argentine tactician would be willing to discuss in the deal.

The Sun have recently reported that United are also looking at Tottenham striker Harry Kane for next season, so it may be that they have other ideas in mind for how to strengthen up front anyway.

Kane would have the advantage of having already proven himself in English football, though he’d likely be far more expensive and is arguably a more one-dimensional forward than Griezmann.

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Still, Griezmann’s preference may well be to carry on playing in La Liga, as he has been in Spanish football since the tender age of just 14.

The France international rose to prominence at Real Sociedad before moving to Atletico in 2014, and he has since continued to impress with 86 goals in 173 games for the club.

Despite signing Ousmane Dembele this summer, the recent departure of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain means it is little surprise to see a new attacking player on the agenda again for Barca.

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