Man United give up on Griezmann chase?

Manchester United have abandoned their pursuit of Antoine Griezmann and will target the signing of a traditional centre forward instead, according to widespread reports.

The Red Devils have put in over six months of groundwork towards a deal for the Atletico Madrid forward and were believed to be happy to meet his £85million release clause.

However, injury to Zlatan Ibrahimovic has complicated United’s plans and FIFA’s deicison today to uphold Atletico’s transfer ban has increased the likelyhood of Griezmann staying in the Spanish capital.

According to the Telegraph, United have severely cooled their interest in Griezmann and have drawn up a three-man shortlist of Andrea Belotti, Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata as replacements for Ibrahimovic.

‘I have no idea – you have to ask Ed Woodward,’ said Mourinho.

‘He knows since March who I want, what I want, how much i want. He knows everything since March.

‘Now it’s for him to work because he will have holidays in August and in August I’m working.’

The Swede is currently sidelined with a long-term knee injury and is not expected to return to action until 2018, regardless of whether he’s handed a new deal at Old Trafford or not.

The news will come as a huge shock as United had appeared to be growing closer to a deal for Griezmann.

Mourinho responded to talk about signing the Frenchman last week and insisted executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had known his targets since March. — PAS