Manchester United 'enquired over Antoine Griezmann availability last summer'

The Red Devils were linked with a number of forwards last year due to the speculation surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo's future, but the Portugal international ultimately stayed at the club beyond the transfer deadline before having his contract terminated at the end of November.

According to Sky Sports News, Man United football director John Murtough and recruitment consultant Tom Keane wanted to meet with Griezmann's representatives in Madrid over the summer to discuss a switch to the 20-time English champions.

However, the report claims that the 31-year-old made it clear that he was only interesting in securing a permanent move to Atletico Madrid, having been on loan from Barcelona at the time.

Griezmann was used sparingly in the opening weeks of the season due to a clause in his contract which would have involved Atletico paying a fee for him next summer, but an agreement was ultimately reached for him to re-join the capital giants on October 10.

Man United are said to be keeping a close eye on the situation, with the Frenchman potentially considering his future if Diego Simeone leaves his role as Atletico head coach this summer.

Griezmann was excellent for France at the 2022 World Cup, helping the Blues reach the final of the competition.

Operating in a withdrawn role, the experienced attacker played in all seven of his side's matches in Qatar, providing three assists in the process, but he could not help Didier Deschamps's team overcome Argentina to make it back-to-back World Cups.

Griezmann has scored seven goals and registered nine assists in 27 appearances for Atletico this term, meanwhile, including six goals and seven assists in 18 La Liga appearances.

The Red and Whites are currently fourth in Spain's top flight, level on points with fifth-placed Villarreal, so they face a battle to secure Champions League football for next term.

Simeone's side do not have any European football in the second half of this season, having finished bottom of their Champions League group, with their only genuine chance of silverware this season coming in the Copa del Rey, where they will take on Real Madrid in the quarter-finals on Thursday night.

Griezmann is in his second spell at Atletico, and he boasts a record of 148 goals and 66 assists in 320 appearances for the club in all competitions.

Man United will be in the market for a new forward this summer, having terminated Ronaldo's contract towards the end of last year.

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Napoli's Victor Osimhen are thought to be the club's leading targets, but a move for Griezmann could seemingly become an option if Simeone leaves and the capital side are unable to qualify for next season's Champions League.