Atletico Madrid want to re-sign Diego Costa
Atletico Madrid are keen to re-sign Chelsea striker Diego Costa this summer but will only pay a reasonable price, according to a report in the Independent.
The Spanish striker scored 20 times for Chelsea on the road to becoming Premier League Champions this season.
Costa, 28, was impressive against Arsenal in the FA Cup final defeat and managed to get himself on the scoresheet. After the final, Costa was adamant that he will remain at Stamford Bridge and that if he does move, it will only be back to his old club Atletico.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is looking to bolster his attacking options for next season, with the London club heavily linked with Everton’s Romelu Lukaku and Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata. Moves for these forwards could be funded through the sale of Costa.
However, Atletico are only willing to pay £20million for the forward, who they sold to Chelsea in 2014 for £32million.
Any bid for Costa depends on the future of Atletico forward Antoine Griezmann. If the Frenchman is sold then Diego Simeone will be desperate to bring in Costa to add firepower to his forward line.
Costa has also been heavily linked with a move to China, but it is understood that he is not keen on the move as he wants the best possible chance to make Spain’s squad for the upcoming World Cup.
“I don’t have any intention of going,” Costa said. “The truth is I am very good here and I have a contract. I will stay if the club and manager want me. If they want to sell to bring in another forward, there’s no problem, I will go. The whole world knows that Atletico is the only club I would go to.”
Sources close to player reveal that Costa isn’t a fan of the English weather and loves the Spanish lifestyle and climate.