Barcelona have seemingly moved into pole position for Antoine Griezmann, with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu recently meeting the French star’s parents, as he looks to piece together a summer deal.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Bartomeu ate with the Atletico star’s parents and, crucially, his sister, who is currently looking after the agent-less forward’s professional affairs.
Griezmann, 26, was a major target for Manchester United last summer, before he decided to remain with Atletico.
He was subsequently handed a new big-money deal with a €100million buyout clause.
That figure is well within Barca’s reach and it appears that Griezmann is their choice as they look to add another striker to their attack.
Transfer news and gossip from Monday's Daily Mirror
Manchester City will make Pep Guardiola world football’s highest-paid manager next summer with a lucrative new contract worth up to £80million. The Spaniard signed a three-year deal when he joined from Bayern Munich in 2016, but the club’s hierarchy have already decided to hand him a massive new contract — likely to be a four-year extension.
Manchester United have been given the green light to make a £60m January move for Juventus left-back Alex Sandro.
Chelsea are considering launching a bid for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, most likely next summer.
Chelsea will rival Manchester City’s interest in Virgil van Dijk — to try to stop Pep Guardiola demolishing the rest of the Premier League. And the champions' boss, Antonio Conte, has also urged the other top sides to take on runaway leaders City next month in the battle for Southampton’s £70million Dutch defender.
Antonio Conte has insisted he wants to stay at Chelsea beyond this season. The Italian will have just one season remaining on his contract at the end of the campaign — his bosses are unimpressed that they trail City by 14 points after just 18 games and are unlikely to stand in his way if the former Juventus and Italy coach does want to quit in the summer. But Conte wants to stay — to try to prove that Pep Guardiola’s Mancunian Blues can be beaten.
Top Arsenal transfer target Nabil Fekir is open to joining the Gunners, in addition to a number of top European clubs. The 24-year-old has been one of the stars of the season in Ligue 1 with huge bids likely to be tabled in January (via Football.London).
Transfer news from other newspapers and websites
Italian champions Juventus and Spanish giants Real Madrid are keen to sign Luiz. (Daily Mail)
Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez, 28, has turned down a £400,000-a-week offer from a Chinese club because he is determined to join Manchester City. (The Sun)
Cristiano Ronaldo wants Real Madrid wage increased so he's the world's highest paid player again. (Marca)