According to Sportfm.az, the 25-year-old is wanted by José Mourinho to bolster a forward line in which only Zlatan Ibrahimovic has proved a success this term, the Swede having scored 19 goals. If United do sign Griezmann he may become the world’s second most expensive player, as he has a €100m (£85.5m) release clause in his contract, with Paul Pogba’s £92.5m fee when joining United last summer the record.

On Wednesday night Canal Plus, a French TV station, claimed Griezmann has agreed personal terms with United and may earn as much as Pogba’s £17.7m a year, salary though the club have yet to agree a fee with Atlético for a player contracted until 2021.