Wow. Really, calm down. We're going to have posters claiming we should have been competing for Solanke at this rate.
Obviously I don't have any real insider knowledge on this but, from having closely followed these big transfer sagas (yes, I'm afraid this is what it's become) there's far too much smoke to suggest he wasn't, and still is, a very serious target that we will still be able and willing to pursue. Our reasonings so far for our cooling of interest have focused around Ibra's injury but - despite a number 9 being a more problematic area for us right now - as has been pointed out already, the extent of Zlatan's injury was known months ago. So I don't really buy that excuse.
What has changed in the past few hours though is the upholding of Atleti's transfer ban - in my mind, the real reason behind this press briefing. So many of these sort of transfers come down to club politics and PR/saving of face, in particular for the selling club, who we shouldn't forget that in this case are a huge club currently in world football and who don't want to sell their best asset if possible. Atleti's image has been sorely damaged today, and their board, fanbase and players will all be hurting from the news. Had we swooped in and triggered Griezmann's release clause right away we would have further damaged Atleti's standing as a big club, upset their players and fans, and - more importantly - seriously annoyed their board. Now, there's not much their board can do to stop this transfer if we're willing to meet Griezmann's buyout clause, but one thing they clearly have a say over is the manner in which we pay for him, ie instalment structure. If they asked for £80m up front now, a price I've seen quoted here today, and move through the negotiation proceedings in a manner which they, as a board who don't want to sell, are totally within their right to do, that would really affect our other transfer dealings this window. It would also make dealing with Atletico in the future complicated, something we may have to do in the next few seasons if a certain Spanish goalkeeper decides to return to Madrid.
For now, I'd recommend fans in meltdown/panic mode to calm down. There doesn't seem - at this stage, at least - to be any other serious interest in Griezmann other than from ourselves. I imagine that the reason he's now not currently top of our to get list is because we feel confident that when we do turn our attention to this, we will be able to complete it a relatively swift and painless manner.
Now watch Griezmann sign a contract extension in the next 24 hours.
Obviously I don't have any real insider knowledge on this but, from having closely followed these big transfer sagas (yes, I'm afraid this is what it's become) there's far too much smoke to suggest he wasn't, and still is, a very serious target that we will still be able and willing to pursue. Our reasonings so far for our cooling of interest have focused around Ibra's injury but - despite a number 9 being a more problematic area for us right now - as has been pointed out already, the extent of Zlatan's injury was known months ago. So I don't really buy that excuse.
What has changed in the past few hours though is the upholding of Atleti's transfer ban - in my mind, the real reason behind this press briefing. So many of these sort of transfers come down to club politics and PR/saving of face, in particular for the selling club, who we shouldn't forget that in this case are a huge club currently in world football and who don't want to sell their best asset if possible. Atleti's image has been sorely damaged today, and their board, fanbase and players will all be hurting from the news. Had we swooped in and triggered Griezmann's release clause right away we would have further damaged Atleti's standing as a big club, upset their players and fans, and - more importantly - seriously annoyed their board. Now, there's not much their board can do to stop this transfer if we're willing to meet Griezmann's buyout clause, but one thing they clearly have a say over is the manner in which we pay for him, ie instalment structure. If they asked for £80m up front now, a price I've seen quoted here today, and move through the negotiation proceedings in a manner which they, as a board who don't want to sell, are totally within their right to do, that would really affect our other transfer dealings this window. It would also make dealing with Atletico in the future complicated, something we may have to do in the next few seasons if a certain Spanish goalkeeper decides to return to Madrid.
For now, I'd recommend fans in meltdown/panic mode to calm down. There doesn't seem - at this stage, at least - to be any other serious interest in Griezmann other than from ourselves. I imagine that the reason he's now not currently top of our to get list is because we feel confident that when we do turn our attention to this, we will be able to complete it a relatively swift and painless manner.
Now watch Griezmann sign a contract extension in the next 24 hours.
Look the moment we start nosing around asking other clubs about the availability of certain players, talking to the agents etc. teams will know and since teams generally do not try to sign players the do not want/need well there you go.