Arsenal transfer target Antoine Griezmann appears close to leaving Barcelona on a permanent deal in the coming weeks, according to reports. The Frenchman has been linked with a move to the Emirates as the Gunners eyed further striking power in the summer to bolster the squad.
The 31-year-old never made the switch though, staying on loan at Atletico Madrid as part of a two-year loan that was agreed last summer. There had been plenty of intrigue surrounding his involvement for the Rojiblancos so far though, as eyebrows were raised over how much he was playing.
Griezmann, despite being fully fit, hasn't started a single game for the Madrid side, instead making a substitute appearance for the side with roughly 30 minutes of the match left to go. This information started to be picked up by viewers, with reports claiming that Diego Simeone was doing this to avoid a mandatory transfer fee for having the striker play a certain amount of minutes.
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When asked why he has chosen to do this so often this season, the manager said: "You have known me for ten years now; I am a man of the club and I always will be." While this doesn't confirm that this is the case, it certainly hints that the transfer clause could well be the reason.
Catalan newspaper SPORT then reported that Arsenal, after missing out on a move in the summer, are keeping tabs over a transfer for the Frenchman in January. Those hopes, however, may have been dashed by another recent report.
L'Equipe state that an agreement is close between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid to lower the fee in the mandatory transfer clause down to £22million. This would likely see the player go on to reach the threshold for minutes and become a permanent player of the Rojiblancos once again, dealing a blow to the Gunners in January.
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