David Moyes: Manager under pressure at Real Sociedad after losing Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid

The French international scored 26 goals in his last two seasons at the club to secure the Champions League football fans have now come to expect

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There are many reasons why David Moyes is under pressure at Real Sociedad but one of the biggest is Antoine Griezmann. The 24-year-old forward is no longer at the club – and therein lies the problem.

He was there from 2009 to 2014. In his last two seasons he scored 26 goals as the club made it into the Champions League. Expectations remain high among the club’s supporters but Griezmann is now making a huge impression at Atletico Madrid. So much so that Jose Mourinho wants to build his Chelsea side around him next season.

He scored 25 goals in his first season at Atletico and has started this season in the same vein. Last week’s brilliant solo goal helped his team to a 2-0 win over Moyes’ Real Sociedad.

He didn’t celebrate out of respect for his former club. Moyes also remained stony-faced on the touchline. The defeat to Atletico left him with just six points from a possible 24 and only three wins in his last 18 games.

Real Sociedad failed miserably in their attempt to replace Griezmann. Sporting director Loren made Alfred Finnbogason the second most expensive signing in the club’s history. The Icelandic striker, who cost £5.75m from Dutch side Heerenveen, managed just two goals and Moyes loaned him out to Greek side Olympiakos, where he warms the bench.

This season’s replacement was chosen by Moyes, but only after the Scot missed out on his first choice, Danny Ings. Jonathas, the Brazilian striker who scored 14 goals last season for Elche, has scored only once so far, and is suspended for Sunday’s must-win visit to Levante.

Griezmann, meanwhile, will be preparing to face Valencia with the world at his feet. He will be one of France’s most important players when they host Euro 2016 next summer, by which time Mourinho would love to have him listed on the France squad sheet as a Chelsea player.

His contract runs until 2020 with a buy-out clause increased to €65m (£46.8m) this summer. If he does move to Stamford Bridge he will be following Diego Costa’s route. Whether he partners Costa or Costa returns to Atletico as part of the deal is a moot point but there would be little resistance from Costa.

Griezmann’s arrival would take the edge off Chelsea losing out on Kevin De Bruyne. The decision to jettison the Belgian smarts with every goal he scores for Manchester City. The Frenchman is similar in style; his stats are as impressive and he has the star quality that recent Chelsea signings have lacked. He has bags of personality too – a little too much in 2012 when he was banned by the French FA for a year after breaking a night curfew with the Under-21s.

The joie de vivre is still there but he has grown up in recent seasons – you don’t make it under Diego Simeone any other way. Mourinho would be buying character as well as class. How Moyes must wish Real Sociedad had waited a little longer to sell one of the greatest talents to come through the club in its recent past.