Just in: Barcelona and Atletico restart negotiations for Griezmann – Saul swap

According to reports from Gerard Romero, Barcelona are trying to find a buyer for Antoine Griezmann in the final hours of the transfer window and have reignited talks with Atletico Madrid regarding the swap deal featuring Saul Niguez.

Since the revelation of the club’s delicate financial situation, Griezmann’s exit has been the most widely speculated topic in Barcelona. His high wages and relatively poor performance on the pitch made him one of the ideal options to cash in on.

When the club needed to desperately sell players and bring down the wage bill, the Frenchman was linked to many possible destinations. Of them, his return to Atletico Madrid seems the most realistic.

Simeone is keen on having the player back in his team, hoping to go two for two for two in La Liga. Despite the transfer being in an advanced stage earlier in the window, however, the deal fell apart because the Madrid based club were not willing to cover his entire salary.

Lionel Messi’s exit seemed to be a turning point in his transfer saga. The Argentine’s departure left the club looking for a leader in the attack, and the former Atletico Madrid man was seen as the one to step up.

Griezmann is reportedly open to a move to Atletico. The window is in its final stages with just hours to go, yet there is optimism in Barcelona’s offices that a deal can be found.