Manchester United plan for Antoine Griezmann arrival

Manchester United are planning for life with Antoine Griezmann ahead of the summer transfer window. According to a source, some staff are confident of signing Griezmann from Atletico Madrid, though there is plenty of work to do. The arrival of Griezmann would make Rooney’s departure much less commercially important, and would mean that retaining Zlatan Ibrahimovic – despite his serious injury – is less vital for the second half of next season.

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United and Jose Mourinho are planning for big changes over the summer after his side has struggled to break into the top four amidst an injury crisis. Phil Jones and Chris Smalling were snubbed by Mourinho after the Swansea City draw, saying that he would not talk about them. Previously, he has suggested that both of the players are not as committed to playing through pain as others in the side – such as Juan Mata, who was back unexpectedly early after surgery on his groin.

There are obstacles to the move, though. Griezmann’s move is largely dependent on the club qualifying for the Champions League, which is by no means guaranteed after a disappointing end to the season. United lie in fifth, a point behind Manchester City, with four league games to catch up. United travel to Arsenal and Spurs in their next two league games, while also taking on Celta Vigo over two legs in the next two weeks.

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Problems are mounting for United because they suffered yet more injuries against Swansea – Luke Shaw left in the first half with a bruise on his foot, and Eric Bailly hurt his foot towards the end of the game. That means that United could line up with Antonio Valencia, Matteo Darmian, Daley Blind and Ashley Young as a back four for four games in quick succession. Marouane Fellaini is suspended for two more Premier League matches, so Michael Carrick is unlikely to be used as a makeshift defender. Timothy Fosu-Mensah dislocated a shoulder at the end of the Manchester derby, exacerbating the problems.

United need to win the Europa League to qualify for the Champions League, if they do not manage a top-four finish, and should be confident of progressing past Celta, who lie 11th in La Liga. However, with their inconsistent record, vulnerable defence, and injuries to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the club is running on fumes.

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If United can only secure Europa League football in the 2017/18 season, then potential signings will have to weigh up if they can afford to miss the most glamorous and respected tournament, the Champions League, in the year before the Russian World Cup. Players will be wary of risking their place in their respective national squads because of their lack of European experience and prominence could be the deciding factor when a national team manager makes the final decision.

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Nevertheless, Griezmann’s arrival at United is something that those in the club are planning for. Losing the Champions League might be a dealbreaker, but United remain favourites to win the Europa League at this stage. They would be able to afford the release clause of around £90m, and they are regarded as one of the best paying clubs in the world. Griezmann would not be shortchanged by any pennypinching in the contract negotiations. And as well as the benefits on the pitch, United can use Paul Pogba as an example to demonstrate just how much a player’s fame can rise at Old Trafford (and how much sponsorship money United can raise at the same time).

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Mourinho and United are known to be keen on other attacking reinforcements, with Everton’s Romelu Lukaku a name often mentioned. Mourinho tried to retain Lukaku while at Chelsea, but Lukaku wanted regular first team action and so made the move. There is an acceptance that Wayne Rooney will need to be replaced, and he could make the reverse move of Lukaku, rejoining his boyhood club, who are just behind United and in contention for a Europa League place of their own. Lukaku will need to improve his showings from when he plays against United, where even Blind has coped without too many problems. Nevertheless, his ability as a flat-track bully could come in handy when United have to turn draws against mid-table clubs into victories, and with the likelihood that he will be able to improve alongside more talented players. David de Gea is also another big-name player who could depart, with continued interest from Real Madrid.

Manchester United are also rumoured to be interested in Burnley’s Michael Keane, a boyhood United fan, but again he may elect to move to a Champions League club with a world cup on the horizon.

None of this has stopped United preparing for Griezmann’s arrival, though there may still be a degree of optimism and some exacting conditions before the transfer is made certain.