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Alas! The Griezmann transfer saga has finally come to an end with a grievous blow for Barcelona fans.
The Frenchman had long been linked to Barcelona, who were ready to trigger his £87.5m release clause, which will come into effect on July 1. However, a few hours ago, the 27-year-old dropped a bombshell by snubbing the Spanish giants and announcing he will stay at his current club, Atletico Madrid.
Griezmann revealed his sensational decision on Movistar+.
I have decided to stay.
He also posted a video on his Twitter handle, confirming his stay at the Wanda Metropolitano.
As such, the former Real Sociedad star has thrown La Blaugrana's transfer plans into utter disarray. Nevertheless, this is not an unfamiliar experience for the club, who must be having a feeling of déjà vu right now.
Last summer too, Barcelona spent months trying to secure Marco Verratti, only to see him brush off the offer and stay put at Parc des Princes.
Having undergone this interminable rigmarole, Barcelona will now have to quickly catch up on their potential transfer targets, who they believe can be a replacement for Antoine Griezmann.
On that note, let us take a look at the 3 signings Barcelona could clinch after Griezmann's knock-back.
#3 Paulo Dybala
In the past couple of years, Dybala has merchandised himself as one of the most promising young talents in modern football.
The Argentine joined Juventus on a fee of £36m in 2015 and has remained the linchpin of the squad since then.
In the recent season, he notched up 22 goals in the 33 appearances he made in the Serie A with an added 5 assists.
The 24-year-old can effortlessly run rings around the opposition owing to his excellent technical intellect, dribbling skills, balance and confidence with the ball.
Dybala has been linked with a move to Nou Camp due to his Argentinian connection with Lionel Messi and the speculations have been stimulated by Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri's recent interview.
Would we wait for the World Championship to decide his future? No, it’s not like Higuain.
I spoke to him before the holidays and his goal is to play another great season with us and then go to a great team to improve. If you play at Juventus you have three chances: Real, Barça or Bayern.
#2 Anthony Martial
There's no denying that Anthony Martial is an enormously talented player who has just not been utilized to the full due to Manchester United's managerial issues in the years gone by.
Besides, the arrival of Alexis Sanchez and the emergence of Jesse Lingard has seen the Frenchman fall further down the pecking order under Jose Mourinho.
Consequently, the 22-year-old wants to leave The Red Devils as told by his agent, Philippe Lamboley.
After thinking about all the factors and possibilities, Anthony wants to leave Manchester United
I think that when United, the most powerful club in the world, do not find an agreement after eight months of negotiations then they do not really want to keep such an important player in their squad. That's why this decision has come - it's a well-thought-out decision.
Everyone will have their opinion but I think he needs to resume his career. The time has come.
As such, it would be a breeze for La Blaugrana to scoop up the Manchester United forward.
Martial possesses a technical ability and speed at the left wing that many pundits have likened to Thierry Henry's. Although the comparison is arguably overstated, it just goes on to show the potential the former Monaco star boasts, which could make him a superb addition to Valverde's roster.
#1 Christian Eriksen
Christian Eriksen has emerged as the top target for Barcelona post the Griezmann kiss-off.
The fulcrum of Tottenham Hotspur's midfield, Eriksen has caught the eye of a number of top European clubs with his back-to-back dazzling performances.
During the 2017-18 season, the Danish prodigy racked up 10 goals and 10 assists, the 5th highest in Premier League.
Eriksen possesses a penchant for cutting inside and playing long balls for his team-mates, an ability he excels at, allowing him to build up play from the back without much difficulty.
Even though it is understandable that Tottenham will be reluctant to sell their star player, the attacking midfielder would patently cost less than the astronomical fee Barcelona were willing to splurge on Griezmann.
