Dimitar Berbatov has warned Manchester United against signing Antoine Griezmann in January (Picture: Betfair)
Dimitar Berbatov has warned Manchester United against making a move for Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann in January.
Erik ten Hag is keen to add more firepower to a forward line that has struggled for goals so far this season, despite the £72million arrival of Rasmus Hojlund.
The Denmark international has scored five times already in Europe this term, but is still waiting to break his Premier League duck following a series of wayward performances.
Ten Hag is likely to be working with a limited budget in January, despite the impending arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the promise of a significant cash injection from the British billionaire who is set to acquire a 25 per cent stake in theclub.
Griezmann came close to joining United earlier in his career when Jose Mourinhowas the helm but reports earlier this week claimed talks have already started over a sensational move when the transfer window reopens.
Former United No.9 Berbatov, however, fears any such signing would create a ‘mess’ and have a negative impact on Hojlund’s development.
He told Betfair: ‘If United choose to go and buy someone in the January transfer market, I’m curious to see who that’s going to be.
Antoine Griezmann has been linked with a sensational January move to Manchester United (Picture: Getty)
‘Antoine Griezmann has been linked in January, but if he comes, then what happens if Hojlund and Griezmann are fit? Griezmann needs to play because he’s Griezmann, so is Hojlund not playing then?
‘If Hojlund doesn’t play, then it’s like, why did you buy him? It would become a mess. I don’t think that transfer will happen.’
Berbatov, meanwhile, hopes Anthony Martial can seize the latest opportunity he is likely to be granted in the potential absence of of Hojlund against Everton on Sunday due to injury.
‘With Hojlund out, who is going to take that place up front?’ Berbatov added. ‘Rashford? We know he doesn’t like it there. Martial? I don’t think he likes it there either. Garnacho? He plays on the wing. So now there is a dilemma – who is going to play as the centre-forward?
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‘I really hope Martial has a future at Man United. I’m a bit biased because I used to play with him, and I saw the quality he has. Everyone knows that he’s not working the way he should be. He’s not using his quality properly and he’s struggling because of this. He needs to be shaken up a little bit and there are moments where he needs to push hard and change his game.
‘I saw in the last couple of games, he did that, he pressed, he was angry in his body language and going hard towards the opposition. He needs to do something extra.
‘When you’ve been at a club for a long time, you get complacent. From time to time, you need to challenge yourself and the people around you need to wake you up and say, ‘look, you have so many qualities that you’re not using correctly. Wake up, do more and bring it to the team’.’
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