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Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho ‘weighing up fresh £88m bid’ for Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann

Diego Costa's return to the Spanish capital could prompt another bid from United

JOSE MOURINHO will make a fresh move for Antoine Griezmann next summer, according to reports.

With Diego Costa now back at Atletico Madrid, the Manchester United boss believes the French star will again be open to moving to Old Trafford.

 Manchester United will make a fresh bid for Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann next summer
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Manchester United will make a fresh bid for Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann next summerCredit: AFP or licensors
 Jose Mourinho is willing to meet the forward's £88million release clause
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Jose Mourinho is willing to meet the forward's £88million release clauseCredit: Rex Features

Griezmann, who came third in Ballon d'Or voting last year, had appeared happy to move to the Premier League club last summer, even claiming there was a "six out of 10 chance" he would make the move.

But that was before the Spanish club were handed a worldwide transfer ban by Fifa.

The forward revealed he did not want to leave the club while a replacement could not be found - saying it would be a "dirty move" to leave.

But with that ban to be lifted in January, and former Chelsea striker Diego Costa already back at the club, ESPN report that Mourinho will make another move next summer.

Griezmann, 26, had been a top target for Mourinho before the Special One changed tack and prioritised a No 9.

The sale of Wayne Rooney and serious injury to Zlatan Ibrahimovic forced the Portuguese's hand, with United eventually buying Romelu Lukaku for £90m after being linked with Alvaro Morata.

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 Griezmann was close to joining United last summer but Atletico were handed a transfer ban
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Griezmann was close to joining United last summer but Atletico were handed a transfer banCredit: Reuters
 United switched their attention to a striker and ended up with Romelu Lukaku
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United switched their attention to a striker and ended up with Romelu LukakuCredit: Rex Features
 With Diego Costa back at Atletico Madrid, the Spanish club would be more open to the sale
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With Diego Costa back at Atletico Madrid, the Spanish club would be more open to the saleCredit: Reuters

But despite the move falling through, and Griezmann signing a one-year extension in Spain, both parties remain keen on each other.

Griezmann has a €100million (£87.8m) release clause - which now seems cheap after the whirlwind final months of the summer - that Mourinho would be happy to trigger.

With Costa returning to Atletico, in a £67million deal from Chelsea, and available to play from January Diego Simeone's club already have the goals to replace Griezmann.

Atletico remain unbeaten in La Liga, with four wins and two draws from their opening six matches.

Griezmann has two goals in five games, including winners against Malaga and Sevilla.

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