Why Antoine Griezmann is closer than ever to signing for Manchester United

Antoine Griezmann is enduring his worst campaign as a professional footballer since he made his debut with Real Sociedad at the age of 18. He has just scored three goals in 13 games in all competitions and the most worrying aspect is his body language on the field. He is no longer the powerful and speedy forward who floated like a butterfly but stung like a bee.

His brother, Theo Greizmann, is very active on social media and has a chequered record on Twitter. A fortnight ago he said, during Atlético's clash with Deportivo La Coruna: "We (Atlético Madrid) advance 40 meters, we go back 80. Something usual, I do not understand it. Antoine plays six.

"I have the impression of reliving the same game. Antoine Griezmann can not create an opportunity if he does not have the ball." By the time Atlético had completed victory he deleted the tweets, but it was more evidence that the Frenchman is not enjoying the current season.

Furthermore he admitted to Sky Sports this weekend: "It would be incredible to play alongside Paul Pogba, I always ask questions on Manchester United, on his team mates and even on José Mourinho." He also added that "right now, I don't see myself playing for another club".

Griezmann's sibling has again done little to extinguish the speculation after he posting another message on Twitter, with 'praying' emojis above a photograph of Old Trafford. He has since deleted his whole account.

The forward will be 27 next March and he appears to be stuck. And though he has been performing outstandingly since first cutting his teeth in the top flight, he has just one major honour in the form of the Spanish Super Cup; not the haul of a potential Ballon d'Or winner as he was last year.

The chance of him staying with Atletico after the World Cup are close to zero. Even though Diego Simeone's superb squad who have reached the Champions League final twice in the last four years, they remain below the level occupied by Real Madrid and Barcelona. In other words, if Griezmann wants to end his career with more silverware he must leave. And time is not on his side.

During last summer, he was close to leaving. "He wanted to sign for another club," reported Diario Marca. But after Atlético were hit with a transfer ban until next January by Fifa, he admitted that "it would have been a dirty move to leave".

But there is another reason to think he is only months away from signing for another club. His release clause has decreased from €200m [£178m] to €100m [£89m]. The increase was part of the most recent deal he signed with Los Colchoneros last summer, putting an end to one of the transfer soap operas of 2017.

Manchester United are the main contenders to sign him, as Griezmann is following the same path as in 2013/14 campaign in Spain. Up until the end of February 2014 his performances were out of this world, netting 20 goals in all competitions while the Basque side was fighting for Champions League qualification.

However, after making his debut for the France senior team Griezmann returned to the club with just one goal as Sociedad dropped to seventh in La Liga. It was not just a goal drought. He simply stopped running and pressing, something he had always been doing since his debut in 2009, even during periods of bad form.

Nobody at the club dared to suggest that the player wanted to avoid injuries as he knew he was leaving the club in the coming summer and after the World Cup. Then Sociedad boss Jokin Aperribay admitted what happened when asked some months ago. "We lost strength because we had players like Griezmann or Carlos Vela who were constantly thinking about their future. We all saw what happened".

This season is proving to be one of déjà vu. The World Cup is around the corner and Griezmann is becoming consumed by speculation. Time is not on his side.