PSG Transfer News: Antoine Griezmann Reportedly 'Main' Target, Latest Rumours

Antoine Griezmann is Paris Saint-Germain’s main transfer target as the club step up their attempts to find a suitable replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, according to Sport (h/t Jack Rathborn of ESPN FC). 

The Atletico Madrid striker has been in magnificent form once again this season, scoring six goals in his eight games in La Liga after winning the Golden Boot at Euro 2016.

It seems increasingly likely that Griezmann, in his third year as an Atletico player, will be the latest forward to make his name under manager Diego Simeone before moving on to bigger things.

The 25-year-old has only recently signed a new contract at the Vicente Calderon Stadium, committing his immediate future to the club with a deal that included a €100 million release clause. However, this has not stopped PSG sporting director Patrick Kluivert from making the France international his primary objective for the future.

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

The French champions were expected to match Griezmann’s €80 million release clause, but their preoccupation with signing Barcelona star Neymar saw a move for the Atletico forward put to one side.

Neymar is no longer considered a viable option for Kluivert, paving the way for Griezmann to join the club. The striker appears to have fuelled the rumour in a recent interview, claiming that “you never know what will happen in the future,” per France 3 (h/t Sky Sports).

The news comes amid PSG’s poor start to life without Ibrahimovic. Manager Unai Emery’s side are six points behind Ligue 1 leaders Nice after falling to defeats against AS Monaco and Toulouse already this season.

Edinson Cavani has taken up the central-striker role, but despite scoring nine times in as many games this campaign, the 29-year-old Uruguayan has something of a reputation for missing simple chances, as ESPN FC's Jonathan Johnson pointed out on Twitter:

PSG are desperate to win the Champions League this season in order to assert themselves as one of the biggest teams in world football and signing Griezmann would help them on their way.

The Frenchman has scored nine goals in his last 25 Champions League appearances, including both strikes in Atletico’s stunning 2-0 win against Barcelona in last year’s quarter-final second leg and the decisive away goal against Bayern Munich in the semi-final.

Alongside new boss Emery, who won three consecutive Europa League titles with Sevilla, PSG would be in a better position to jump that final hurdle. They have failed to get past the quarter-final in each of the last four seasons.

However, Kluivert may face competition from Manchester United for Griezmann’s signature. He is United’s top target for the summer of 2017, per Samuel Lovett for The Independent, and Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho is believed to be looking for more creative talent following their disappointing start to the Premier League season.

United fans were recently handed a boost when Griezmann admitted in an interview with Le Parisien (via AS) that he turned down an opportunity to speak to PSG during Euro 2016, but only because he wished to focus on the international tournament.

In other news, Sevilla defender Adil Rami has confirmed that PSG contacted him on transfer deadline day after David Luiz’s switch to Chelsea, per RMC (h/t Get French Football News).

“I had contacts with PSG in the most recent transfer window. It was not 100 per cent certain, we discussed a lot, but I am really happy at Sevilla,” he said. “But I need to play, and today I am a starter in a club that is respected on a European level, so I did not want to take the risk.”