Manchester United Transfer News: Antoine Griezmann Talks Paul Pogba, Top Rumours

Atletico Madrid superstar Antoine Griezmann has teased the thought of a move to Manchester United after confessing he wishes to play alongside France team-mate Paul Pogba at club level. 

Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ (h/t Daily Star's Jamie Anderson), Griezmann said he frequently asks Pogba about life at Old Trafford after strong speculation linking him with a move to United:

"

I always ask Paul Pogba about Manchester United. I think they are a huge club with a really good infrastructure. I ask Paul about some of the players, and if they're really that good, or if Jose Mourinho is really that good.

You hear a lot of things [speculation] about Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain but right now I don't see me moving to a new club. But it would be awesome to play alongside Paul one day.

"

While Griezmann's admission about being settled at the Vicente Calderon is a blow for those wishing to see the forward line up as a Red Devil, his admiration of United and manager Jose Mourinho is a positive indicator.

Pogba and Griezmann are known to be great personal friends on and off the pitch, and the former took to Instagram to state his pleasure at being back alongside his comrade during the international break:

United already have a strong contingent of French players among their ranks in the shapes of Pogba, Anthony Martial and Morgan Schneiderlin, while Ivorian Eric Bailly, 22, is also a French speaker.

Both Griezmann and Pogba—who returned to Old Trafford for a world-record £89 million this summer—featured prominently in the France team that ran to the UEFA Euro 2016 final this past summer, although the latter was far from at his best:

The Red Devils will no doubt look to continue their splurging next summer, and after the Guardian confirmed both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale penned new contracts at Real Madrid, Griezmann could be the logical alternative.

But tempting Atletico into a sale will be another matter entirely, and Di Marzio translator David Amoyal recently impressed the influence of Los Rojiblancos manager Diego Simeone:

It was confirmed in September, however, that Simeone had renegotiated his contract, previously expiring in 2020, to instead come to an end in 2018, a move the Mirror's Ed Malyon suggested "spells the end" of his time at the club.

The stars would appear to be aligning in front of the Red Devils to complete their move for one of Europe's in-form attackers, and with Zlatan Ibrahimovic's United contract expiring next year, Griezmann could be a ready replacement.

Elsewhere, the Telegraph has provided quotes from Lou Ning, honorary chairman of Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan, who confirmed to Chinese radio that his outfit saw a summer approach for Wayne Rooney turned down.

Ning explained Rooney's wish is to play Premier League football "as long as his health allows," adding: "We indeed made an approach for Rooney at the beginning of the season, but he's informed us that he wants to stay in Manchester United."