It is no secret that Barcelona want to move on Antoine Griezmann as they seek to reduce their wage bill this summer, but it's proving to be easier said than done. The club's second highest earner reportedly needs to make way for the club to be able to re-sign Lionel Messi on a new contract, but to do so requires a suitor.
The only side to be strongly linked to date are Atletico Madrid, but even they do not wish to pay a fee for him and president Joan Laporta is understandably reluctant to gift a star player to a direct title rival.
Following the mistake of Josep Maria Bartomeu to gift Atletico another striker, Luis Suarez, only a year ago, Laporta does not want the same embarrassment.
With Barcelona seeking a big player or big fee for Griezmann, that leaves two possible destinations: Paris or England.
In Paris, Griezmann has not been included in any speculation and Mauricio Pochettino already has a glittering front line full of superstars with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
In England, there has been next to no interest in his services either. Manchester United, so often linked with Griezmann in the past, have shown no interest as they change their transfer policy to focus on younger players, while Griezmann is already past 30.
His age almost directly rules him out of a move to Liverpool or Chelsea, who both have strict approaches to players who have already celebrated their 30th birthdays.
Manchester City seem to prefer the option of younger and homegrown Harry Kane for more money.
Of the clubs rich enough to afford the World Cup winner's fee and wages, neither Tottenham nor Arsenal will play in the Champions League this season and so are unlikely to appeal to Griezmann as one of football's elite talents.
The result is that there is no Premier League interest and Barcelona must find an alternative. As time runs out, Laporta and his team may have to lower the asking price or, worse, consider selling to a rival, if they are desperate to shift Griezmann this summer.