Man Utd plot to hijack Liverpool move for ‘Le Petit Diable’

There’s not too many World Cup stars who can compete with the column inches afforded to Real Sociedad and France flyer Antoine Griezmann so far this summer.

Griezmann proved to be La Real’s talisman last term, with the Basque-country club losing just one of the 13 La Liga games the 23-year-old struck 16 goals across.

Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps took note and Griezmann was called up for his international debut in March, prior to his inclusion in France’s squad for the World Cup, where he appeared in every match and created more goalscoring chances than any of his teammates bar Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena, according to Squawka.com.

The wideman has indicated he will leave the Anoeta Arena, having snubbed a two-year contract extension on better terms in San Sebastian, and Liverpool were thought  be readying a bid for his services.

Last year’s Premier League runners-up joined an ever-increasing line of European heavyweights who’ve been keeping tabs on Griezmann, with Arsenal, Real Madrid, PSG, Chelsea and Barcelona – to name just five from a stellar list – linked with the Burgundy native.

Spanish paper AS recently reported that a £20m offer from the Reds would be enough to see him switch from Sociedad to Anfield, but news that Manchester United have entered the transfer fray could mean that figure needs reassessing.

Incoming Red Devils coach Louis van Gaal will have a raft of number 10-type players at his disposal next term, but none of Adnan Januzaj, Juan Mata, Shinji Kagawa or Wayne Rooney are blessed with the electric pace winger Griezmann brings to the party.

‘Le Petit Diable’ or ‘The Little Devil’ as he is nicknamed back in France would be a marked improvement on ineffective left-wing mistake Ashley Young, while Griezmann can also operate  – quite brilliantly based on last season’s evidence – as a right-forward in a 4-2-3-1.

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