Manchester United’s transfer plans have taken a twist with the club cooling their long-standing interest in France striker Antoine Griezmann in order to focus their efforts on signing a target man to replace the injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, Torino’s Andrea Belotti, and Alvaro Morata, of Real Madrid, are among the No 9s under consideration after United opted against triggering the €100 million (£87 million) release clause in Griezmann’s contract with Atletico Madrid.

News that United were now prioritising a direct replacement for Ibrahimovic, who suffered a cruciate knee injury against Anderlecht on April 20 raising doubts about his future at Old Trafford, filtered out barely an hour after Atletico had a transfer ban upheld that will prevent them from registering new players this summer.

It was thought that United wanted a new, physical No 9 in addition to Griezmann, whom they had been pursuing for months, in the wake of Ibrahimovic’s injury and only last week senior sources at Old Trafford were indicating that the Atletico forward remained a target.

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But the clear indications from sources close to the club on Thursday were that priorities had changed in the six weeks since Ibrahimovic’s long-term lay-off.

Those same sources said United retained an interest in Griezmann and would not rule out a move for the player in the future.

Yet Atletico have been trying to tie Griezmann to a new contract in recent weeks and the Spanish club may now opt to invest money they cannot spend on new signings in a new money spinning deal for the Frenchman.

Griezmann has delivered a series of mixed messages in recent weeks, with threats to leave Atletico followed by pledges to stay. On Thursday evening he appeared to signal his commitment to Atletico by tweeting: “Now more than ever #Atleti #Todosjuntos [all together]”.

Jose Mourinho, the United manager, is desperate to bolster his attack after frequently bemoaning his side’s profligacy but moves for the likes of Lukaku, Belotti and Morata are fraught with differing complications.

Everton are demanding a world record £100 million fee for Lukaku, 24, and have a record of getting premium prices for their players. United also face stiff competition from Chelsea, who want to re-sign the Belgium striker three years after selling him to the Merseyside club for £28 million. Mourinho was in charge of Chelsea at the time but is thought to admire Lukaku, who scored 26 goals for Everton last season, and knows he is proven in the Premier League. United could seek to use Wayne Rooney, who is expected to leave Old Trafford this summer, in any discussions amid talk of a potential return to Goodison Park for the England striker

Belotti, 23, has risen to prominence in Italy this season with 27 goals in 32 games for Torino. But the Italy striker has a €100 million (£87 million) release clause, which is considered a huge sum for a player who remains largely unproven.

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AC Milan are believed to be leading the chase at this stage for Spain striker Morata but has struggled to hold down a first-team place at Real Madrid, and Juventus previously.

Ibrahimovic has expressed a desire to stay at Old Trafford and Mino Raiola, the Swede’s agent, told Telegraph Sport on Thursday that his client may not be out for as long as many expect. Where a move for a direct replacement would leave Ibrahimovic - out of contract this month - is unclear.

Meanwhile, talk has resurfaced in recent weeks about Gareth Bale’s future at Real amid the Spanish club’s interest in Monaco sensation Kylian Mbappe and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. Real ideally want to sell James Rodriguez to help fund a move but they are so far having trouble offloading the Colombia forward at the price they want.

United have tried and failed to sign Bale in the past and have also been rebuffed in efforts to bring the Welshman’s Real team-mate, Cristiano Ronaldo, back to Old Trafford. Ronaldo, 32, set tongues wagging ahead of Saturday's Champions League final against Juventus in Cardiff by voicing his frustration at being jeered on occasion by Real fans and admitting that he missed England “because you can’t just turn off the memories.”

Reports in Portugal on Thursday night claimed United were closing in on a deal for Benfica and Sweden centre-half Victor Lindelof.