Gossip: Man United step up Griezmann chase

Daniel Storey

MAN UNITED STEP UP GRIEZMANN CHASE
It looks more and more like Antoine Griezmann is the name at the top of Manchester United’s attacking wishlist. The Sunday Mirror’s line from John Richardson is that he is the replacement for Wayne Rooney, but they are entirely different players. Still, one superstar in and one … erm… superstar out.

The piece makes four notable claims:
1) Manchester United are prepared to pay £80m for Griezmann.
2) Rooney will be allowed to go to China or the US next summer.
3) Atletico are resigned to losing Griezmann at the end of the season, despite his contract lasting until 2021.
4) Griezmann fancies a move to the Premier League.

 

EVERTON WANT PICKFORD
It seems a bit unfair to be talking about possible replacements for Maarten Stekelenburg on the day after he saved two Manchester City penalties, but Ronald Koeman obviously doesn’t see the 34-year-old Dutchman as his long-term option.

That honour might fall to Jordan Pickford, who the Sun on Sunday believe is being lined up for a move to Goodison. For what it’s worth, the Sunday Mirror say that Pickford will be offered a bumper new deal to stay at Sunderland.

That’s all very well, but Pickford is clearly on the Jack Butland conveyor belt to stardom despite his tender years, and Sunderland’s relegation would surely persuade him to move on. A move to Everton next summer makes about 12 different kinds of sense.

 

LIVERPOOL WANT ITALY STRIKER
We do keep seeing Liverpool linked with strikers, despite that they already have quite a few and at the moment are playing with a false nine formation. Poor Danny Ings must be annoyed.

This time it’s Andrea Belotti who is rumoured with a move, with various newspapers quoting Italian outlet CalcioMercato’s claims that Torino will sell the striker for £20m.

There is no doubt that Belotti is hot property. The forward has scored five times in as many Serie A matches this season. At just 22, he already has three caps for Italy and scored against Macedonia last week.

 

AND THE REST
Crystal Palace plan contract talks with Joe Ledley and Martin Kelly to ward off possible interest… Chelsea want young Porto defensive midfielder Ruben Neves in January, but are demanding an answer now… Tottenham are eyeing a move for Romelu Lukaku’s younger brother Jordan, a left-back currently with Lazio… Arsenal face a fight to keep young Swedish centre-back Kristopher Da Graca from a move to Paris Saint-Germain… Manchester City rising star Bersant Celina, currently on loan with FC Twente is being chased by Borussia Dortmund… New Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce is working on a January loan deal for Middlesbrough forward Jordan Rhodes.