Apart from Jadon Sancho leaving Borussia Dortmund for Manchester United, it’s mostly been a pretty dull summer transfer window so far. But a new report from Foot Mercato that’s really enticing is beginning to spice up the transfer scenario and makes a lot of football sense, one that also makes a lot of football sense.
The French website claims Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola himself made a personal phone call to Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann, as City need a striker to replace the departed Sergio Aguero and the French striker checks all the boxes besides having started to shape up in his strike partnership with Lionel Messi in the latter part of his tenure at Barca last season.
There aren’t many places that can afford Griezmann, but City is certainly one who can. Also, despite having plenty of cash, City have yet to make a signing this summer as logistics and circumstances don’t seem to be working out in their favor and the splashy players do not seem to be on track towards happening any time soon.
The report goes on to say that City’s interest in Tottenham’s Harry Kane has cooled somewhat due to the stiff asking price set by chairman Daniel Levy.
And the Erling Haaland option is another snag as the Norwegian would cost more than Kane. City are running out of options when it comes to making a big name signing, but French national Antoine Griezmann might work out to be the best win-win solution for all involved.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is alleged to have deemed the matter important enough to attend to himself personally and has reached out to the player via a direct phone call, according to Foot Mercato.
Specific details about the said phone conversation were not revealed, but the Citizens boss contacted Griezmann to discuss his potential move to Manchester City, the report said.
At Barcelona, Griezmann still has three years left in his current deal. However, it is no secret that he is one of the club’s highest-paid stars.
Looking at how things stand, it appears that the La Liga side is desperate to offload even selected first team senior players immediately to secure the contract extension of Lionel Messi, which has been Barca’s top priority this summer. And widespread rumors have already linked Griezmann to a move away from Camp Nou, with Juventus said to be one of the clubs keeping close tabs on his situation.
Addressing Griezmann’s future with Barcelona, Ronald Koeman recently admitted that he doesn’t have any concrete information as to how things will play out for the World Cup winner.
“[Antoine] Griezmann is very important for me,” the Barcelona manager told Sport. “He’s been a great signing for Barcelona and has shown his quality.”
“He’s performed well and is a very good player,” he continued. “But I insist, I don’t know which decisions will be made.”
Prior to the new transfer link-ups, Griezmann opened up about his relationship with Barcelona, particularly his first season with the club where he revealed Barcelona had made him feel irrelevant for the first time in his career.
“Yes [I was unhappy at Barcelona],” Griezmann told the French publication L’Equipe last month. “When you lose the title, for example, it makes me sad. Also at the beginning of the season, because I wasn’t playing, I didn’t feel important.”
“I’m used to playing everything – the big games – I find myself on the bench against Real Madrid,” he continued. “It’s annoying to see teammates warming up on the pitch while you are next to them. But these are the coach’s decisions and I have to accept it and do everything I can to change his mind.”