Chelsea ready to pay £88m release clause to seal Antoine Griezmann transfer

Chelsea are reportedly ready to pay a staggering £88million to seal the transfer of Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann.

The Blues are prepared to spend big to improve their squad after a difficult start to the season, with £60m Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci also reported as being a priority target.

Still, it’s clear that Antonio Conte needs reinforcements in attack as well, with Michy Batshuayi seemingly not in his plans after joining from Marseille in the summer, and with Eden Hazard looking a shadow of the player he was just over a year ago.

Griezmann has emerged as Chelsea’s ideal candidate to come in, with the France international establishing himself as one of the deadliest goalscorers in Europe in recent seasons.

The 25-year-old 62 goals in 113 games for Atletico, and his form for France at Euro 2016 has seen him talked up as a potential Ballon d’Or contender this year.

Griezmann has a release clause of £88m at the Vicente Calderon, and the Daily Telegraph claim Chelsea would be willing to pay that club-record fee to bring him to Stamford Bridge in the near future.

Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is also said to be on the west Londoners’ radar this season after his continued fine form in the Bundesliga.

It is little surprise to see Chelsea targeting world class attacking players of this calibre, with the numbers showing they’ve far out-performed Blues stars Diego Costa and Eden Hazard in terms of goals over the last few seasons.