Manchester United face a huge week as their Champions League ambitions hang by a thread, with the Red Devils needing to be victorious in the Europa League final against Ajax if they are to seal a return to Europe’s elite competition.

Jose Mourinho’s side fell well short of expectations domestically, finishing sixth in the Premier League standings, but the Portuguese boss’ transitional first season in charge can still go down as a success if the Europa League title is secured this week- and the Red Devils will be looking for a perfect summer.

Having splashed the cash a year ago, Manchester United are set to do it all again in the close-season as they look to improve on the under-par areas of their squad- with a top-class striker being top of United’s wish-list.

Antoine Griezmann is the priority signing for Manchester United this summer, and the French striker could command a fee that shatters the world-record price-tag the Red Devils set last summer with Paul Pogba’s addition, and United have received a positive update in their quest to land his signature this week.

Quizzed by French TV show Quotiden, and quoted by the BBC, Griezmann admitted it’s possible he could leave Atletico Madrid for Manchester United this summer and rated the chances of him moving to Old Trafford at 6/10.

Any United success in the Europa League would significantly improve Manchester United’s chances of landing Griezmann, as the French striker is desperate to stay playing in the Champions League, and the hint from the forward is the ideal start to Manchester United’s summer.

The Red Devils have a lot of work to do in the close-season and there was concern for many that Manchester United may have set their sights too high, with Mourinho’s side linked to an array of superstar signings- including Neymar, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez.

The likelihood of all of that trio moving to Old Trafford this summer is significantly slim and the danger has stood that rejections from top targets could hit the Red Devils hard- as we’ve seen previously with the club’s interest in the likes of Sergio Ramos and Toni Kroos, amongst others.

However, Griezmann’s comments to suggest a move to Manchester United is on the cards hand the Red Devils a major boost on the transfer front and it could help their pursuit of other top-targets, as Mourinho’s side will look to prove they’re capable of matching their lofty ambitions.

That said, there is still a danger that a move for Griezmann may fall through and that’s more likely to happen if the Red Devils fail to win the Europa League this week and seal a return to Europe’s elite competition- which raises the importance of United achieving success in their crunch clash with Ajax.