Chelsea are interested in signing Barcelona attacker Antoine Griezmann. The Blues could use a player from their own squad to convince the Frenchman to join the club.
Griezmann is one of many Barcelona stars who have been put up for sale as the Catalan side look to reduce their enormous wage bill.
As per Daily Express, the Premier League side could use Kurt Zouma to act as a negotiator of sorts to help bring Griezmann to the club. The Blues are keen on bringing former Atletico Madrid forward on loan from Barcelona in the current transfer window.
Griezmann is the highest-earning player on the Barcelona roster at the moment now that Lionel Messi is no longer with the club. The World Cup-winning attacker still has three years remaining on his current contract at Barcelona.
Antoine Griezmann to Chelsea – Is he the player Tuchel needs?
Barcelona are desperate to trim their wage bill and have put several of their first-team players up for sale. Griezmann, who joined Barcelona for a whopping €120 million just two years ago, is one player who they want to get rid of this summer transfer window.
Chelsea are making plans to bring France international Antoine Griezmann in on loan from Barcelona…
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 13, 2021
The Frenchman hasn’t lived up to the expectations of Barcelona fans or the club’s board as he has scored just 35 goals and assisted 17 times in 99 appearances for the club.
Many expected him to ease Lionel Messi’s burden in attack, but he hasn’t quite delivered on that front. The big problem that Barca has in shifting Griezmann is his mammoth wages. The pandemic has substantially reduced the buying power of most of Europe’s elite and they may not take a chance in signing a player like Griezmann, who hasn’t been in the best of form over the last 18 months or so.
But, if the Blues can find the finances to sign Griezmann on loan, he could be a decent stop-gap solution in the striker position. It’s no secret that Chelsea wants to sign a high-profile striker to lead the line as last summer’s signing Timo Werner, had an average first season with the Blues.
There’s been talk about Chelsea interested in signing Erling Haaland, but Borussia Dortmund is demanding a massive fee of £150 million for him. The Premier League side could wait another season and buy him for half the price as he will have a release clause of £70 million next season.
Football rumours: Chelsea planning loan move for Antoine Griezmann https://t.co/1y8oq1215A
— Indy Football (@IndyFootball) July 14, 2021
Griezmann is a fine player when on form, capable of driving at defences, linking up with attackers, and using his smart movement to get into threatening attacking positions. The Frenchman has vast experience and is a technically sound player who could be a good fit in the Chelsea attack alongside the likes of Mount, Pulisic and Havertz.
Perhaps Chelsea could make it a permanent deal next season if Griezmann settles in well at the London club.