Surely has to be do to do with the ban? Maybe Griezmann has stated privately he would only move if ban was overturned so they could get a replacement ?
Makes no sense doing all this supposed groundwork then an hour after ban gets announced we brief the press saying we ain't interested anymore?
The ban makes the deal more complicated because as people have been saying to get rid of the jewel in the crown then they maybe are demanding the money up front to make it worth their while ?
Both sides know this so Griezmann stays a little longer.
I can understand why he is not he priority but having said that he is better than any other no 10 we have, maybe not 100 million up front better though and that's why we have decided to look elsewhere.
Rather than bring 4 in bring in 6 and improve the balance of the squad as a whole rather than a luxury? A left back, cb (or 2), dcm, cf and then a winger (or 2).
May even have to invest in a goalie.
He would have been a great buy and maybe it will still happen but in Mkhitaryan and Mata plus Rooney still not being gone we are over stacked in the no 10 role.
The worst thing we could do is spend 100 million and then struggle to fit him in (although doing the groundwork you'd think we would have planned for this).
Maybe we can't get rid of Rooney. I know I wouldn't buy him and that could hold up the outlay especially on wages.
Something odd is going on.