Thismay Costa Atletico £50m
CHELSEA have opened talks with Atletico Madrid over £50million Diego Costa – even though the striker can’t play for them until January.
The Spanish giants have made a move to re-sign the man they sold to the Blues three years ago with Antonio Conte adamant Costa won’t play for him again.
Should Atletico reach agreement with Chelsea they are set to loan out Costa, 28, during the first half of next season before registering him when their transfer ban expires in 2018.
The marksman is keen to have his future sorted out quickly as he is well aware if he returns for Chelsea’s pre-season trip to the Far East he will be frozen out.
Chelsea had intended to sell him this summer anyway – but were concerned Conte’s premature text to dump the divisive firebrand would affect his value.
The club still intend to drive a hard bargain for a player who has scored 20 goals in two of the last three seasons, each time proving pivotal in their Premier League title successes.
Chelsea chief negotiator Marina Granovskaia is said to want £50m for Costa, despite his controversial interviews that were feared to have wiped millions off his price tag.
This comes with Chelsea hoping soon to announce they have agreed a new fouryear deal with Conte worth £9.6m a year to end the uncertainty over their manager’s position.