Jose Mourinho will make a fresh move for Antoine Griezmann next summer, according to reports.
With Diego Costa now back at Atletico Madrid, the Manchester United boss believes the French star will again be open to moving to Old Trafford.
Griezmann, who came third in Ballon d’Or voting last year, had appeared happy to move to the Premier League club last summer, even claiming there was a “six out of 10 chance” he would make the move.
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But that was before the Spanish club were handed a worldwide transfer ban by Fifa.
The forward revealed he did not want to leave the club while a replacement could not be found – saying it would be a “dirty move” to leave.
But with that ban to be lifted in January, and former Chelsea striker Diego Costa already back at the club, ESPN report that Mourinho will make another move next summer.
Griezmann, 26, had been a top target for Mourinho before the Special One changed tack and prioritised a No 9.
The sale of Wayne Rooney and serious injury to Zlatan Ibrahimovic forced the Portuguese’s hand, with United eventually buying Romelu Lukaku for £90m after being linked with Alvaro Morata.
But despite the move falling through, and Griezmann signing a one-year extension in Spain, both parties remain keen on each other.
Griezmann has a €100m (£87.8m) release clause – which now seems cheap after the whirlwind final months of the summer – that Mourinho would be happy to trigger.
With Costa returning to Atletico, in a £67m deal from Chelsea, and available to play from January Diego Simeone’s club already have the goals to replace Griezmann.
Atletico remain unbeaten in La Liga, with four wins and two draws from their opening six matches.
Griezmann has two goals in five games, including winners against Malaga and Sevilla.
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