Man Utd and Chelsea in the hunt for Griezmann as his preferred destination

 With pre-season already having 

started for Barcelona, the Catalans 

haven’t really got too much longer to 

be able to shape their squad ready for 

the new campaign.

Joan Laporta’s priority is to secure 

Lionel Messi to a two-year deal, which 

it’s believed the Argentine is happy to 

sign, however, there’s still some work

 that needs to be done behind the 

scenes in terms of numbers in order 

to make the deal happen.

Wages need to be slashed or got rid 

of altogether, and to that end, Antoine 

Griezmann could be the highest profile 

fall guy.

The Frenchman certainly hasn’t 

helped his chances of staying at the 

club after becoming embroiled in a 

racism storm with team-mate Ousmane 

Dembele.

Sport, cited by the Daily Express,

 have suggested that both Man United

 and Chelsea are keen on bringing the 

30-year-old to the Premier League, 

however, the player’s preference is 

to return to Atletico Madrid.

That will be difficult as the report also 

says that Barcelona have no interest in 

negotiating with the Rojiblancos after 

having their fingers burned by seeing 

Luis Suarez turn out for the club.

There also appears to be no truth 

in any rumour of a swap deal with Saul

 Niguez.