Atletico Madrid close in on loan deal for Diego Costa
Spanish La Liga side Atletico Madrid are close to re-signing Chelsea’s outcast forward Diego Costa on a loan deal in January which will become permanent in the summer transfer window, according to a report on Goal.
The striker has been told that he is not needed anymore at Stamford Bridge by Blues boss Antonio Conte and is nearing his preferred move back to Spain.
Costa has been in his hometown in Brazil ever since the summer and has not been training, which resulted in him not being selected for the Spain National team for their World Cup qualifying fixtures.
The forward is eager to return to Atletico Madrid and has a close connection with Diego Simeone who is also determined to reunite with his former striker.
The loan move is close to being agreed and would begin in January and will ultimately result in the Spanish club paying £40m for the permanent transfer of Costa in the summer.
Costa will not be able to feature for Atletico until 2nd January 2018 but is hoping to return from Brazil to train with the club and regain match fitness as he faces an uphill task of fighting back into the National team setup.
Costa is officially registered in the Chelsea squad but Conte has no plans of using him at any point in the season.