London: Manchester United have cooled their interest in signing Atletico Madrid’s French forward Antoine Griezmann, a source close to the club confirmed on Thursday.
Europa League winners United were reported to be plotting an approach for 26-year-old Griezmann, rated around 100 million euros (Dh412 million).
But a source confirmed reports in several British media outlets that United have shifted their focus.
The club are thought to have instead prioritised the acquisition of a more conventional centre-forward.
Torino’s Andrea Belotti, Everton striker Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata, of Real Madrid, are among players with whom United have been linked. Cristiano Ronaldo also continues to be linked with a return to Old Trafford.
Belotti, 23, has risen to prominence in Italy this season with 27 goals in 32 games for Torino while Morata has scored 20 goals in 42 appearances for Real but remains behind the likes of Karim Benzema and Ronaldo in the pecking order at the Bernabeu.
Lukaku offers Premier League experience and notched 26 goals for Everton this season.
United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has sustained a long-term knee injury and is due to be out of contract at the end of the month.
Griezmann is close friends with United midfielder Paul Pogba and has dropped hints about wanting to move to Old Trafford in recent weeks.
In a recent French television appearance, he said there was a “6/10” chance of him joining United and a “7/10” chance of him staying at Atletico.
Griezmann joined Atletico from Real Sociedad in 2014 and has scored 83 goals in 160 games for the club, with whom he reached the Champions League final in 2016.
