Antoine Griezmann 'stalls' on new Atletico Madrid deal amid Chelsea and Manchester United interest

Antoine Griezmann has snubbed all efforts by Atletico Madrid to increase his release clause amid interest in his services from Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, according to AS. Diego Simeone's outfit are desperately trying to increase the buy-out value to €150m (£115.6m, $164.4m) in an effort to ward off suitors, but the Spanish publication says the France international is happy for it to stay at its current €80m tag.

AS reported in January that Atletico Madrid were looking to commit Griezmann's future to the club, giving him a significant pay rise while increasing the Frenchman's release clause to something approaching €100m. The 24-year-old had only just signed a new deal at the Vicente Calderon the previous season, but Simeone was keen to secure his future further still, as he did by increasing the buy-out clause of goalkeeper Jan Oblak to €100m.

Griezmann himself confirmed these reports last months, saying he was in talks with Atletico Madrid and adding he was very hapy at the club.

"We are in talks," Griezmann said to Cadena Ser in February. "More with my representative than me. I am dedicated to playing at the moment, but both parties are doing well."

AS now claims negotiations have stalled as the player is refusing to increase his clause, while Atletico Madrid chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marian wants to set it at €150m.

Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are all said to be monitoring the situation after the player became a leading figure at Atletico, scoring 22 goals in 38 appearances this season despite not being a striker.

AS suggests one of the main reasons Atletico are trying to tie the player down is that his exit would probably also signal the departure of Simeone. The Argentine boss considers Griezmann a key member of his squad and is not ready to let him follow in the footsteps of fellow departures like Manchester City star Sergio Aguero or the Chelsea duo of Radamel Falcao and Diego Costa.

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