Diego Costa could still return to Atletico despite transfer ban
Atletico Madrid are readying a bid for Chelsea to bring back their former striker Diego Costa, according to The Mirror
The La Liga side are expected to make an initial bid of £26m along with various performance-related bonuses which could see the fee rise close to the £32m Chelsea paid back in the summer of 2014. The bid is expected to be made this week for Costa to rejoin the team in January when their transfer ban is lifted.
Should Costa remain with Chelsea until the transfer ban is lifted, Atletico Madrid would also ask for Chelsea to keep Costa out of their Champions League squad to avoid having the 28 year-old cup-tied should Atleti advance beyond the group stages.
Costa is said to be eager for a return to his old club and link up once again with his former boss Diego Simeone. Despite scoring 20 goals and adding a further 7 assists in 35 appearances this past season for the Premier League Champions, Costa was told via text by manager Antonio Conte that he no longer had a future at Stamford Bridge. The now famous text is said to have dropped Chelsea’s asking price for Costa by as much as £10m.
The Italian gaffer would also like to see the polarizing and controversial forward gone before Chelsea’s preseason begins. The two have experienced a tumultuous and trying relationship which reached its boiling point back in January during which time Costa was also being linked to a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League.
Chelsea however were unwilling to sell Costa, fearing the difficulties of attempting to find a ready made replacement before the window closed and thus potentially sabotaging their chances of winning the Premier League.
Earlier this month, AC Milan were said to have interest in bringing Costa to Italy but his wages proved to be a stumbling block and eventually led to the Rossoneri turning their attention elsewhere in the form of young Portugese starlet Andre Silva.