Heading into this summer’s transfer, it looked as though Antoine Griezmann would be involved in a transfer saga involving Manchester United.

In the months leading up to the off-season, the Frenchman was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford.

However, the move collapsed after Atletico Madrid failed to overturn their transfer ban - meaning they weren’t able to register any players until 2018.

Of course, it still meant that Griezmann could leave the club but they just wouldn’t be able to replace him until January.

But, rather respectably, the forward decided it would be morally wrong to leave the club despite interest from United and other European giants.

"The CAS sanction has been passed. I've decided to stay," Griezmann said in June.

"It's been another good season and hopefully we can make some good signings in January.

"It's a tough moment for the club, for my team-mates, and it would be a low blow to leave now."

But when Atleti can register players once again, there’s every chance that Griezmann can leave.

And there’s an even bigger chance he could leave after it was reported that his €200 million release clause has been halved to €100 million.

With Neymar leaving Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain for a crazy €222 million this summer, the chance to sign Griezmann for ‘only’ €100 million will be extremely tempting and seen as good value.

Jose Mourinho’s side will no doubt go back in for Griezmann but he may face plenty of competition from the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.

Barcelona's situation

But one club that won’t be in the race to sign him is Barcelona.

You’d think that after selling Neymar for such a large fee and failing to sign their number one transfer target - Philippe Coutinho - the Catalan club might be very keen to steal a world-class player from their rivals.

But, according to Mundo Deportivo, they will find it very difficult.

That’s because they’re not entitled to sign Griezmann for the reduced €100 million just yet. Instead, they will have to pay the original €200 million release clause until July 2018.

It’s understandable that Diego Simone doesn’t want to sell his star player to a side in the same league but why Barcelona and not Real Madrid?

Either way, it’s likely that Griezmann will be on the move next summer and a club could grab a bargain at €100 million. Barca will have to remain patient for now, though.