English Premier League clubs are ready to sign Antoine Griezmann from Barcelona after Lionel Messi’s decision to stay, MySportDab reports.
Griezmann was promised the no.10 Messi role by new Barca Coach Ronald Koeman if the Argentine legend left the club.
However, those plans have failed after Lionel Messi’s decision was announced last week Friday that he won’t leave Barcelona.
His change of heart will have major effects on the rest of the squad.
Ronald Koeman wants to trim his Barca squad to allow young talents like Ansu Fati and winger Ousmane Dembele play more.
Barca could sell Philippe Coutinho but Koeman wants to see the Brazilian who won the Champions League with Bayern Munich in action.
That leaves Antoine Griezmann vulnerable having failed to impress at Barcelona since his £107m transfer from Atletico Madrid last summer.
The 29-year-old has scored only nine goals in the Spanish La Liga.
Griezmann has previously been linked with a move to Liverpool whose playing style under Jurgen Klopp could help bring back his best.
Manchester United and Arsenal have also been linked with him in the past but Barca would definitely make a huge loss from the fee they paid Atletico Madrid.
Manchester City have only Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero as recognised strikers in the squad and could move for Griezmann.
Barca are happy to use the rest of the transfer window to restructure their squad and Ronald Koeman is yet to see his players in any friendlies.
Since the 8-2 humiliation in the Champions League by Bayern Munich, Ivan Rakitic has left Barcelona for Sevilla and Luis Suarez is set to join Juventus.
Some clubs can still make bids of £80million for Lionel Messi to test Barcelona but he can leave for free next summer.
Manchester City are ready to wait until January when they can speak to Messi about signing him on a free transfer.
Manchester United aren’t exactly interested in Griezmann and are still focused on winger Jadon Sancho.
