Antoine Griezmann to Tottenham: Spurs have £15m bid rejected for French midfielder, but could respond by activating his £25m release clause - reports

Griezmann has attracted interest from Arsenal this summer but Spurs could look to gain a march on their North London rivals

Antoine Griezmann has started two of France’s four games so far (EPA)

Tottenham have failed in their first attempt to sign Real Sociedad winger Antoine Griezmann after their £15m offer was rebuffed, according to reports.

However, various media sources are claiming that the Spanish club are holding out for his £25m release clause, and that Spurs are willing to meet it in order to land the highly-rated France international.

Griezmann saw his responsibility at the World Cup increase significantly after star player Franck Ribery was ruled out of the tournament in Brazil through injury, meaning that the Sociedad attacking midfielder was deployed by manager Didier Deschamps on the left flank in his place.

Having been linked with a move to Spurs’ North London rivals Arsenal – Arsene Wenger has previously admitted to being a fan of the 23-year-old – it appears that Mauricio Pochettino could look to get one other on the Gunners by landing Griezmann should they activate his release clause.

The Daily Mail reports that the Premier League club had a £15m offer rejected this week, but the Telegraph claims that Spurs will return for the nine-time capped Frenchman and are willing to meet his hefty release clause in order to bring him to White Hart Lane.

Arsenal have already dealt with Sociedad this summer after they sold their buy-back clause in Carlos Vela for a reported £12m after the Mexican agreed a new four-year deal with the La Liga side amid talk of a return to the Emirates.

Pochettino is also maintaining an interest in Morgan Schneiderlin having worked with the French midfielder at Southampton, while he is also monitoring Netherlands star Memphis Depay should the move for Greizmann fail to work out.