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Hot Football Transfer Gossip: Griezmann 'stalling' on £89m Man Utd move, Alexis to give Arsenal 'one more year', Marseille 'target north London trio'

Gossip: Mauricio Pochettino, Alvaro Morata, Arsene Wenger
Gossip: Mauricio Pochettino, Alvaro Morata, Arsene Wenger

For a young man like Antoine Griezmann who has spent his entire life living outside the UK, the name ‘Manchester United’ must have a magical ring to it. The Theatre of Dreams, Cristiano Ronaldo, Eric Cantona – it’s obviously the No1 destination for a hot French striker.

But only when you actually get to this mystical place do you realise it’s a total tourist trap, like the football equivalent of Leicester Square – overpriced, living off ancient past glories and full of dodgy characters.

And the bad news for United fans is that, rather than rocking up at Old Trafford this summer with his selfie stick in hand, Griezmann has been doing a bit of pre-trip research. And he’s discovered, to his consternation, that this so-called ‘Manchester United’ might not be all it’s cracked up to be. It wasn’t even in the Champions League this year, and it probably won’t be next year either.

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The Sun reports that Griezmann is “questioning” a proposed £89m move to Old Trafford and may reject the switch if United fail to qualify for Europe’s premier cup competition for the second year running. The tabloid adds ominously that “Chelsea are interested – and will definitely be in the Champions League next season”.

On a more encouraging note, Spanish paper AS reports that Griezmann revealed he wears the No7 shirt “because of David Beckham”, who was his “idol”. But then he also says he is “tired” of being asked about his future and repeated that he expects to be playing for Atletico Madrid next season.

Another player who could stay put is Alexis Sanchez, who the Mirror says is prepared to remain with Arsenal for “one more year” if the Gunners “prove their ambition” in the transfer market this summer. The only problem is that if the Chilean then decides he wants to join Chelsea on a free transfer in 12 months’ time, there’s nothing Arsenal could do to stop him.

Inter Milan midfielder Ivan Perisic was recently linked with a £30m move to Liverpool, so naturally Man Utd are planning to make a £51m offer for the Croatian – just to make sure they get him, claims the Star.

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Meanwhile, Marseille appear to have a strange, Brexit-friendly transfer policy to remove all French players from the Premier League. Having already captured Dimitri Payet from West Ham, the Express reports that the Ligue 1 side are targeting Arsenal duo Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny, along with Tottenham’s Moussa Sissoko, in an £85m triple summer swoop.

Elsewhere, Wilfried Ndidi’s agent says the Leicester midfielder would put in a transfer request to force a move to Man Utd (Star), Arsenal are set to make a £21m swoop for Schalke’s 22-year-old midfielder Leon Goretska (Sun) and Alvaro Morata will “walk out” on Real Madrid this summer if they don’t sell rival striker Karim Benzema (Star). Sounds a bit dramatic – Alvaro could at least hang around a bit to see if Benzema goes to prison first.

@darlingkevin