Squawka’s chief writer Greg Stobart released a report yesterday claiming that Arsenal have spent the summer pursuing Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid.
GFFN received information to a similar effect this Monday lunchtime.
Arsène Wenger is understood to have begun to actively pursue the idea midway through EURO 2016, after watching Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann compliment each other well going forward, notably against the Republic of Ireland. This was therefore after the announcement that Antoine Griezmann had signed a one year contract extension with Atleti until 2021.
The player’s €100m release clause has however so far been an impossible obstacle for Arsenal to overcome. Arsène Wenger has always been very clear that he is willing to spend money on world-class talent, they just have to be available.
€100m has however up to this point been too great a stretch, even though as Mr Stobart’s report insinuates, intermediaries working on behalf of Arsenal felt that the French international would be open and even interested in moving to the North London club.
It appears that the Arsenal board are allegedly not willing to give Wenger the funds to activate the player’s release clause, despite the currently hostile atmosphere surrounding the Emirates.
One thing that Arsenal cannot reproach Mr Wenger for therefore, is, he is at least trying to cause the “madness” that Arsenal fans have been craving for throughout the summer transfer window.
