Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Antoine Griezmann and Edinson Cavani Rumours

Chelsea's chances of signing Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann could be set to plummet following reports he's in talks to increase his release clause. Plus, Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani is back on the Blues' radar.

Griezmann's current release clause stands at €80 million (£63 million), but the attacker told Spanish radio show El Larguero he's in talks with the club, and a new clause worth €100 million (£80 million) could be inserted (h/t Daily Mail's Kieran Gill):

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We are in talks. More with my representative than me. I am dedicated to playing at the moment, but both parties are doing well.

I knew it was going to cost me at the start because I came from another way of playing and I struggled until the end of November and December. From there I got better and with the support of my team-mates it gave me great strength, as well as from the coach [Diego Simeone].

"

The France international has 19 goals to his name in 35 appearances for Los Rojiblancos this season and is on course to eclipsing the career-best tally of 25 goals he managed for Atletico in the previous campaign.

Atletico have come to rely largely on Griezmann for their goals this season, and Squawka Dave detailed how critical his contribution has been to the club in European competition:

Chelsea have been associated with a swoop for the 24-year-old in the past, including this report from Rob Draper of the Daily Mail, but the Blues may be priced out of a move if Griezmann agrees to new terms at the Vicente Calderon and increases his release figure as reported.

The west Londoners have history with Simeone's side when it comes to triggering release clauses, but the £32 million paid for Diego Costa in 2014 was a considerable sum less than the £80 million fee it could potentially take to acquire Griezmann.

One might also question where the French forward would fit in at Stamford Bridge while Costa remains in the main striker role, with Griezmann having adapted into a more central position during his Atletico stay.

Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images

Another striking option for Chelsea is PSG's Cavani, and Italian outlet Mercato365 reported the west London giants will challenge Manchester United to sign the Uruguayan (h/t Daily Star's Chisanga Malata).

The news comes just days after Cavani's father Luis spoke to Israeli broadcaster Sport5, where he confessed his son could move to England, but Chelsea wasn't the club in his thoughts (h/t Irish Independent's Samuel Stevens):

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I want him to win the [UEFA] Champions League, but he has to play for one of the few teams who can do so. 

You have to go to Barcelona, Real or Manchester, who invest in order to be European champions. It's like with our national team. I always say that even our grandchildren won't see them winning the [FIFA] World Cup.

PSG can win titles in France. They are not quick enough or lively enough. They are a slow team. When they play in the Champions League, you can see the problems. 

They will win everything in France, but you have to accept that winning the Champions League will be very difficult.

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It appears the player's father would have his son move away from the French capital if the decision was his, but Cavani could be content in Paris, despite being fielded largely out of position since arriving from Napoli in 2013.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has occupied the central striking reserve on Laurent Blanc's attack even since Cavani's arrival, and Bleacher Report's Ligue 1 writer Andrew Gibney suggested Cavani isn't up to scratch:

With Ibrahimovic's contract at the Parc des Princes coming to an end this summer, Cavani may finally have his chance to lead PSG's attack, but Chelsea's interest may provide another outlet.

It's difficult to see Cavani and Costa competing for the same place in a team that tends to only field one striker, but the chance to finally land Cavani could prove too tempting to pass up for the Blues.