If rumours in the English and Spanish press is anything to go by, it is only a matter of time before Chelsea triggered the £43-million buy out clause of Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann.
The 24-year-old Frenchman has caught the eye of Jose Mourinho who has mandated Chelsea negotiators to go all out and ensure Chelsea signs him ahead of the other clubs who are said to be interested in signing him. The player was thought to be on his way to Chelsea last summer but the blues ended up signing Mohammed Salah instead while Griezmann moved to Atletico Madrid in a deal said to be worth £24-million.
While the Egyptian flopped at Chelsea, Griezman has gone on to become Atletico’s best player with 25 goals in all competition so far this season. Although to correct this error, Chelsea will have to pay £43-million, this Jose Mourinho does not mind doing according to media reports.
However, should Griezmann eventually join Chelsea this summer ( and it looks inevitable to be honest ), it may well mark the end of the Chelsea career of another Frenchman. Loic Remy who was signed from QPR in the summer will be further down the pecking order should Griezmann join Chelsea and knowing the 26 year old striker, he is very likely to seek for a move away from the club to where he will have the chance to play regularly.
Remy has been unfortunately to have Diego Costa in front of him but has not done badly whether he is called upon by Jose Mourinho. He has bailed out Chelsea a number of times in the absence of Costa.
Personally I would like to see Remy remain with the club even if Griezmann comes in but I don’t see it happening unless Mourinho decides to play a two striker system which is very unlikely.
Griezmann can play wide, he doesn’t have to play no. 9. And Salah was not bought last summer. He was purchased the winter before.