Manchester United Transfer News: Antoine Griezmann Linked Amid Chelsea Rumours

Chelsea will reportedly rival Manchester United in their bid to land Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann next summer, and the Red Devils have reason to hope they can force a deal over the line.

According to the Telegraph's Matt Law, the Blues will "rival any attempt" United make to sign the France international, who signed a new contract at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in June, complete with a €100 million (£84 million) release clause.

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Griezmann has stepped into another tier of European football's hierarchy since joining Los Rojiblancos from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2014, earning rave reviews for his displays in Atletico's colours.

But despite only signing a new deal this year and seeming content in Madrid, Griezmann recently told Telefoot that he'd be willing to leave Atleti if manager Diego Simeone did (h/t Football Espana):

"

I called [Simeone] before extending my contract and he confirmed he was staying. For me, it was important to know that, being at a club with a Coach who trusted me.

I’m happy in Spain and I can still learn a lot from Simeone. I’d only think about leaving if Simeone left for PSG or wherever.

"

Such an outcome may not be implausible, either, after the Mirror's Matt Lawless reported that Simeone is "ready to quit" Atletico, citing Spanish daily El Confidencial, which wrote that the tactician could move to Inter Milan.

Kieran Canning of Agence France-Presse also further outlined the need to keep Simeone around, considering the club could serve a transfer embargo in 2017, preventing them from adding players to their ranks:

United manager Jose Mourinho opted for quality ahead of quantity this summer and landed four specialist recruits in the form of Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The Red Devils' world-record £89 million move to re-sign Pogba indicated finances aren't necessarily a concern, but Paris Saint-Germain may also be interested in Griezmann, according to manager Unai Emery. He told French radio station RMC (h/t Goal's Tom Webber):

"

When I arrived at PSG, I saw many names circulating – and names of major players. But the most important is the players who are here.

I know Griezmann but I never talked to him. He is a very good player. Five years ago, when I was the coach of Valencia and he was at Real Sociedad, I told my president to sign him. But it didn't happen. Now, he said he is very happy at Atletico Madrid.

"

PSG are another club, alongside Chelsea, who boast the transfer resources necessary to be considered a threat to the Red Devils, who may look to complete more business under Mourinho next year.

Griezmann impressed at UEFA Euro 2016 and is quickly developing into one of France's more reliable attacking assets, as he recently showed in training, via Bleacher Report UK:

Much of Chelsea's transfer business in 2017 will depend largely on how head coach Antonio Conte fares in his first season at Stamford Bridge and just how much the Blues will devote to strengthening next summer.

Griezmann will undoubtedly prefer to join a team in the UEFA Champions League, too, and with competition for a top-four spot rife in the Premier League, one of United or Chelsea could miss out.