Arsenal target Lacazette has ‘agreement’ with Atletico Madrid, step forward United?

Manchester United were at the centre of quite possibly the most drawn out transfer saga in footballing history last summer as Jose Mourinho broke the world record for the highest fee paid when he brought Paul Pogba back to Old Trafford from Juventus.

It looks as if there will be a similar saga in the red half of Manchester over the Portuguese’s second summer in charge, with links to top world stars emerging on a daily basis.

One name which has been doing the rounds almost all season is that of Altetico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann, with claims of Mourinho’s interest going back months.

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At times it seemed certain the French star was Old Trafford bound, however, the talk has cooled somewhat in recent weeks, although that is not to say the forward is out of the picture.

One thing which will certainly thrust the former Real Sociedad man firmly back onto centre-stage is the reports coming out of France that his current club have agreed a deal over another forward.

According to Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, striker Alexandre Lacazette, who has been continually linked with a move to Arsenal, has a ‘verbal agreement’ to join Atletico this summer, should their transfer ban be lifted.

“Alex has a verbal agreement with a club, Atletico,” he told L’Equipe.

“There is no certainty, because we have to wait to see if the Court of Arbitration for Sport will lift their recruitment ban.”

The red and white half of the Spanish capital are supposedly confident they will win their appeal against the ban this summer, meaning a deal could well be on for the Lyon striker.

Where, then, does that leave Mourinho and Manchester United?

If Diego Simone and the powers that be in Madrid are agreeing deals for another marquee striker, then it would seem that they have admitted defeat in the battle to keep hold of Griezmann before next season.

You would imagine then that the ball lies in Manchester United’s court. Mourinho supposedly has £200m at his disposal this summer, and therefore is not lacking in the funding department to go out and land Griezmann, who has been rated at £85m this summer. Over to you, Jose.