Future Ballon d’Or winner Griezmann the perfect signing for Chelsea
The France international attacker has the potential to become the best in the world and the Blues simply must pull out all the stops to secure his signature next summer
Antoine Griezmann must be Chelsea’s prime target next summer if they are to battle for honours on all fronts.
Roman Abramovich is showing signs that he is ready to up his investment in the Blues again after splashing out £115 million in the summer, while all top-flight English clubs are feeling the benefits of a record breaking Premier League TV deal.
The France international reportedly has an £88 million release clause after he renewed his contract in June, but the figure is not out of reach for the Blues.
The arrival of the international break will allow Chelsea to take stock of what they have under new boss Antonio Conte, who started the season well, but saw his side’s quality exposed by both Liverpool and Arsenal.
Finishing in the top four remains the main aim for the club this season, but the defeats to two title-chasing sides have humbled a team trying to recover from the hangover of a tenth-place finish last season.
Chelsea hoped most of their first-team players could recover their form this season, but it has become clear that another round of investment will be needed to re-establish the club as a force capable of competing with the likes of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Griezmann is the missing piece in the attacking puzzle for Chelsea, while the club also need to strengthen their defence with at least one new acquisition.
There is no doubt that the Londoners are interested in the Atletico Madrid front man, but sides such as Arsenal and Manchester United have also been linked with his signature.
The Blues, however, need to pull out all the stops to land Griezmann, as any injury to Diego Costa or Eden Hazard would likely throw their attacking plans into crisis.
Atletico Madrid attempted to put together a forward-line comprising of Griezmann and Costa this summer, which caused anger at Stamford Bridge.
It would be the ultimate transfer market revenge to force the sale of Atletico’s talisman after they turned the head of Costa, who has, to his credit, applied himself to become a contender for the Premier League Golden Boot.
Griezmann and Costa missed each other by only 27 days at Atletico Madrid as Los Rojiblancos reinvested some of the £32 million from their sale of the Spain international to sign the 25-year-old from Real Sociedad for £24 million.
While that was fine business, Chelsea must now attempt to strike a similarly shrewd deal to recruit Griezmann. They will, however, have to play nice in order to ensure smooth negotiations as they look sign the player who could well propel the club to the next level.
