Premier League giants Manchester United have been handed a huge boost in their pursuit of Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann.
Griezmann has been told that he will be allowed to leave the club if he wants to make a move away to test new waters.
The Frenchman has made a slow start this season but has eight goals to his name from 19 games in all competitions and speculations suggest that Jose Mourinho is keen to rope in the Atletico star, having failed to secure his services in the summer.
The French striker was heavily linked with a move to Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window.
However, a potential deal broke down due to Atletico Madrid’s transfer ban, which left the La Liga club unable to rope in a replacement.
And Griezmann announced during that time that he would stay put at Atletico as the La Liga club could not sign a replacement due to transfer embargo.
Recent reports claim that the French star is set to part ways with Atletico in 2018, with Man Utd still linked with a move for the striker.
La Liga giants Barcelona are also interested in roping in the Frenchman and it is being said that they they have already agreed personal terms with the striker.
According to French outlet Le 10 Sport, Griezmann has agreed contract terms offered by Barcelona ahead of a potential mega-money move next summer.
Griezmann has displayed incredible form for Atletico since joining the club in 2013 but now the Los Rojiblancos have former Chelsea forward Diego Costa who will be eligible to play from January.
Costa made a sensational return to Atletico in the summer but he could not be registered because of their transfer ban.
With Costa set to play in the New Year, Diego Simeone is ready to let Griezmann leave – but only if the Frenchman urges for a move to go through.
Simeone told L’Equipe: “If a player comes to me and says: “Coach, I have a once in a lifetime chance to play for a certain team, I want to leave”.
“If he did all he could for me as Griezmann does, I’ll say it’s no problem.”
However, Simeone accentuated that he would prefer to see his striker staying in Madrid a bit longer.
Atletico have crashed out of the Champions League but they sit third in the La Liga table – six points behind current league leaders Barcelona but two above cross-city rivals Real Madrid.
“I know that he needs to grow,”Simeone added.
“Of course Griezmann will be able to leave at some point, the same way [Diego] Costa and Arda Turan were allowed to leave.”
