Antoine Griezmann reveals Tottenham wanted him as their Gareth Bale replacement

Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann reveals in his new book that he was close to signing for Tottenham Hotspur to replace Gareth Bale in north London.

Griezmann's club future is once again the subject of intense speculation after almost joining Manchester United during the summer transfer window. Back in May, the France international rated his chances of completing a move to Old Trafford at "six out of 10" until a transfer ban imposed upon Atletico prompted a decision to stay in Spain for another season.

In his new book "Behind the Smile," Griezmann once again opens the door to a move, writing "I have nothing against England" before adding "Manchester United is a possibility," according to AS.

Griezmann will also recount other would-be transfer stories, including Pep Guardiola's attempts to sign him for Barcelona B while the current Manchester City boss was honing his skills as a coach in Cataluña

The forward will also share the details of how he almost arrived in north London. Spurs sold Bale to Real Madrid for a then world record fee of £85m in the summer of 2013, prompting an unprecedented summer of spending where the club bought in seven new players.

Erik Lamela, who became Tottenham's most expensive signing of all time that summer, was the closest to resembling a direct replacement for the Wales international following a prolific final season at Roma where he scored 15 Serie A goals.

The Argentina international struggled in his first season in England with Tottenham's other high profile attacking signing from that record-breaking summer, Roberto Soldado, failing to live up to expectation.

In his book, Griezmann will reveal how Tottenham saw him as the man to truly replace Bale and wanted to bring him to the club before the 2014 World Cup. The Frenchman would eventually leave Real Sociedad to join Atletico later that summer. The book, which goes on sale this week, will likely shed some more light on how a move to the Premier League failed to materialise.

Griezmann could yet arrive on these shores however. The forward signed a new deal with Atletico in June which temporarily raised his release clause to €200m (£182.1m). But as of 31 August – the day the transfer window closed in England – it was reduced to £91.5m – the fee United were ready to pay earlier that summer.