Arsenal Offered To Outbid Liverpool For Griezmann By Sacrificing Vela

Real Sociedad are so desperate to keep Carlos Vela in their ranks next season that they are ready to include Liverpool target Antoine Griezmann as part of the deal, reports in Spain claim.

The Gunners recently told Real Sociedad that they are set to activate a €4m buy-back clause for Vela - either to have him back at the Emirates or to sell him on for a profit.

However, the La Liga side are trying desperately to keep Vela in Spain – after the forward scored 16 goals and grabbed 12 assists in 34 appearances during the season just ended.

Last week, during a meeting in London, Arsenal officials told Real Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay that should they want to keep Vela at San Sebastian they will have to pay €12m to secure 100% of his services – as now both clubs share his rights.

But as Real Sociedad cannot afford to pay that amount of money, Spanish Newspaper Mundo Deportivo reports that they are considering including Griezmann on the deal – letting Arsenal sign the French winger for a cut-price fee below his £25m release clause.

Vela's teammate has been strongly linked with a move away from Real Sociedad after an excellent season in La Liga, scoring 16 goals and earning a place in the French World Cup squad.

Paris Saint Germain are keen on his signing as part of their plans to bolster the squad with French players, while recent reports claimed that Liverpool and Arsenal are also monitoring his situation.

Earlier this season Arsene Wenger himself admitted the north London side were closely following Griezmann.

"Yes, we follow him in great detail. That should not come as a surprise because he attracts other clubs as well. But we follow him, he is a known commodity," Wenger said.

Last week Griezman refused to commit his future to Real Sociedad when reporters asked if he was playing his last game in La Liga ahead of their match against Villarreal.

"I don't think about it too much. I will try to win the game, give everything for the team and that's it, nothing else," he said.

"I do not know, but first we have to play against Villarreal, then the World Cup and then we'll see. I hope to have holidays and then we'll see what happens."