Chelsea are reportedly prepared to meet the £85m release clause for Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann next summer, but the Blues will have to succeed to a top four finish this season.
According to Evening Standard, should Chelsea have any chance of luring Griezmann to join them after the campaign, Antonio Conte’s side will have to manage to get to the Champions League for next term.
Reports are also claiming that the striker himself would be keen to a move to the Premier League either a year or two from now, and there’s plenty of English sides interested in him including Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United.
The Frenchman has been on Chelsea’s wish-list for around two years now, and are really determined to finally seal the deal for the 25-year-old.
Griezmann has scored 61 goals for Atletico Madrid, and signed a new contract with the club that lifted his release-clause to £85m million, keeping him at Vicente Calderon until 2021.
However, while the manager Diego Simeone also reduced his contract with the club with two years, Griezmann is prepared to part ways with the La Liga side in some time.
Regardless of the fact that The Blues would be ready to meet his asking price, Conte will have to lead his team to a Champions League return for next season, as Griezmann, as a star player which he is, wants to keep playing in the European elite competition – especially after losing the final to Real Madrid on penalties in May.
Chelsea are currently placed fifth in the league after five games being played, but the new Italian coach is determined to challenge for the title this season.
After losing 1-2 at home for Liverpool, Conte faced his first loss as a Chelsea manager, but will be looking to bounce back next Saturday when the team travels across London to play Arsenal away.
