Manchester United transfer news: Club launch £60m Antoine Griezmann bid and target second Benfica defender

The latest rumours from Old Trafford on Wednesday 21 December, 2016

Griezmann has a contract until 2021 with Atletico (Getty)

Manchester United are ready to continue their big-spending recruitment drive by following up their world-record transfer for Paul Pogba by signing his compatriot Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid.

According to The Sun, United have asked a leading agent to agree a deal for the 25-year-old which is likely to cost well in excess of £60m.

It is reported that the move will go through in the summer, allowing the Frenchman complete the season in La Liga, with Jose Mourinho seeing him as the perfect link from midfield to attack.

Griezmann has a contract with Atletico until 2021 but is expected to leave at the end of the season, with manager Diego Simeone following suit.

Portuguese outlet Record, claim United are targeting Benfica right-back Nelson Semedo, despite already launching a £38m bid for his teammate Victor Lindelof.

The 23-year-old reportedly has a buy-out clause of £54m in his contract, although United will expect to pay significantly less than that to bring him to Old Trafford.

Lindelof, on the other hand, who United have opened talks with over a January move, was a target for Middlesbrough last year and nearly signed for the newly-promoted club, according to the Evening Gazette.

They reveal the 22-year-old came agonisingly close to joining Boro in a cut-price deal last January, after they believed three times that they had a deal in place to bring him to the Riverside.