Transfer balls: Manchester United sign Antoine Griezmann (next summer)

Bingo! Having been first with the news of Paul Pogba’s transfer to Manchester United – they beat everyone, including the lawyers, the player, his agent and all clubs involved by three weeks – the Daily Mirror brings news of who United are buying next summer.

In “Manchester United transfer news”, the news is: “Manchester United plotting Antoine Griezmann move next summer as Red Devils plan to spend big again.”

The Sunday Mirror’s John Richardson declares

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has already made French star Antoine Griezmann his number one target for next summer’s quest for more galactico signings. By then Mourinho will be confident of offering the much coveted Atletico Madid star Champions League football as he prepares to make another Paul Pogba style swoop.

Number of facts to support this claim: zero.

But there is some mind-reading because we’re told Jose Mourinho “believes the 25-year-old would be a sensation in the Premier League”. Well, if an expert thinks the top scorer at Euro 2016, the man named as the Uefa Euro 2016 player of the tournament, would be able to score in the Premier League, who are we to argue with such insight.

The Mirror’s conceit is, of course, that when Manchester United come knocking, no player can refuse them. But last season’s Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid only signed Griezmann on a new contract last June, the deal keeping him at the club until 2021.

PS: what the Mirror does not mention is that it was pipped to the post by The Bleacher Report, which tweeted yesterday: