Diego Simeone has opened the door for Antoine Griezmann to leave Atletico Madrid in the summer as Manchester United continue to lay the groundwork for a move for the coveted France forward.

Jose Mourinho has identified Griezmann as a leading summer transfer target and United are one of the few clubs able and prepared to meet the €100 million (currently £86 million) release clause in the 25-year-old’s contract.

With Simeone likely to leave Atletico in the summer after taking the unusual step last September of shortening his contract with the Madrid club by two years, one considerable barrier to Griezmann departing is expected to be removed.

In addition, Atletico are due to move into a new 67,000-capacity stadium next season and it is thought the club will have to consider the sale of at least one leading player to help offset some of the loans they have taken out to fund the Wanda Metropolitano project on the site of the former La Peineta athletics stadium.