- Griezmann continues to be linked with a summer move to Barcelona
- Frenchman reportedly demands parity with Luis Suarez on wages
- Talks ongoing, Man Utd could be set to miss out on top target
- READ MORE: Barcelona risk missing out on €65m-rated target, Ernesto Valverde to blame
Speculation continues to surface over a possible move to Barcelona for Antoine Griezmann, with latest reports claiming talks are underway over a deal.
As per Goal.com, the French international has a €100m release clause that first and foremost will have to be satisfied, otherwise Atletico Madrid may choose not to sell him.
Beyond that, any interested party will of course have to reach an agreement on personal terms, and Don Balon, as re-reported by The Express, suggest that Griezmann wants a deal worth €20m-a-year (€380,000+-a-week) to put him on par with Luis Suarez.
It’s emphasised that these talks are not between Griezmann and Barcelona directly, but through intermediaries, while Man Utd are said to be able to offer him more, but he’s reportedly willing to take less to play at the Nou Camp.
The point on matching Suarez’s wage packet in particular is interesting, as it could be argued that the pair may not be able to co-exist at Barcelona such is the competition in the squad.
With Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembele also to take into consideration, it will be interesting to see how Barca choose to line-up with Griezmann and Suarez to also accommodate, although that’s assuming a fee and terms are agreed for him to complete a move to join the Catalan giants.
However, with Suarez and Messi both turning 31 next year, perhaps long-term successors are needed to slot right in and while that’s not to suggest they don’t have lots left in the tank and given Griezmann will expect an immediate prominent role, the fact that Ernesto Valverde’s squad are set to compete on various fronts, he could do with the world-class depth and long-term future building blocks.