Barcelona have reopened talks with Atletico Madrid over the signing of Antoine Griezmann, according to reports.
The striker, 27, came very close to joining the Catalan giants last summer, but he eventually pledged his future to Diego Simeone’s side by signing a new deal to keep him in the Spanish capital until 2023.
However, Griezmann is said to very frustrated at his side’s early exit from the Champions League – Atletico were dismantled by a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick earlier this week – and according to L’Equipe, he is now looking to leave the club.
Griezmann’s current release clause stands at £102million should it be activated before June, but it will rise if no club moves for him.
Furthermore, when signing his new deal the player instructed his agents to include clauses in the deal to allow him to leave the club on certain conditions – and an early exit in Europe was one of them.
However, Griezmannn will have to take a serious pay-cut to join the Catalan club.
Camp Nou chiefs are offering the Frenchman a contract until 2024 where he would earn £13million-per-year, which is understood to be £5million-a-year less than his current wage.
Last summer, Blaugrana stars Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique actively encouraged the club to sign the striker so Barca deal-makers know a potential deal will bode well with the current squad.
This season, Griezmann has scored 12 goals and added a further seven assists in 28 LaLiga matches.