Manchester United Transfer News: Antoine Griezmann Could Follow Anthony Martial

Manchester United could make a late move in the transfer window for Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann, with manager Louis van Gaal apparently a big fan of the player.  

That’s according to Mark Ogden of the Daily Telegraph, who outlines where United currently stand when it comes to the French international:

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With the transfer window extended until 6pm on Tuesday for British clubs due to the August Bank Holiday, United are understood to be determined to add at least one more signing to Van Gaal’s squad in addition to Martial and efforts are continuing to recruit an experienced forward to provide support for the out-of-form Wayne Rooney.

Van Gaal has a long-standing interest in Antoine Griezmann, the Atletico Madrid forward, and a deal could yet be struck for the France international if his £46.1m release clause at the Vicente Calderon is triggered by United today.

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Griezmann would be a wonderful signing at this late stage. The forward was one of the standout players in La Liga last season and possesses myriad qualities that’d instantly make him a key player in Van Gaal’s XI.

As noted here by WhoScored.com, the 24-year-old has been in exceptional goalscoring touch as of late:

But the former Real Sociedad man offers so much more than goals. Griezmann is a creative player, too, possessing an eye for a pass and a bewitching left foot. In addition, he’s been used in a variety of roles by Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, including through the middle and on both flanks. As is requisite to fit into the Atletico boss’s side, he’s a willing worker as well. 

So if United can meet his release clause with minimal time left in the window and lure the forward to Old Trafford, it would be a massive coup. As noted by Sport Witness, it’s not a transfer which is completely out of the question:

The signing of Anthony Martial is one deal which definitely looks as though it’s going to happen, per Ogden’s piece. Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe ran the rule over the young Frenchman and what he’ll bring to Old Trafford:

United could certainly do with some depth in various positions. The loss of players like Javier Hernandez and Adnan Januzaj, per the club's official website, leave the Red Devils very short up front, and if there was to be an injury to a player such as Juan Mata, Memphis Depay or Wayne Rooney, Van Gaal’s squad would be creaking.

The amount of competitions the club have to cope with is unlikely to help matters either, per John Brewin of ESPN:

Griezmann seems unlikely to happen at this late stage, too. Not only would the substantial fee make this a complicated deal, but the player seems settled in the Spanish capital and ready to help a bolstered Atletico side mount a title challenge.

A player of his quality would represent an enormous coup for the Red Devils, but according to Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail, it looks unlikely that anymore significant signings will be made by the club before Tuesday's cutoff. Plus, if Van Gaal was that keen on Griezmann, the deal should have been done long before now.