Barcelona plot Antoine Griezmann swoop

Spanish giants Barcelona are prepared to rival Manchester United in the pursuit of highly-rated French forward Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid.

The 26-year-old has emerged as one of Europe's leading strikers in recent years, having notched 86 goals in over 160 appearances for Atleti.

Griezmann had apparently come on the cusp of joining the Red Devils during the summer transfer window, but the Frenchman had a change of thought after Atleti's transfer ban was withheld.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barca head coach Ernesto Valverde has earmarked Griezmann as his prime attacking target for next summer and has urged the club's hierarchy to go all out for his services.

Atleti's transfer embargo will conclude at the start of 2018, but Griezmann is unlikely to leave the club midway through the season, despite the re-signing of Chelsea's Diego Costa.

The former Real Sociedad graduate presently has an £88m release clause inserted in his Atletico Madrid contract which runs until the summer of 2022.