A summer on strike is set to bear fruit for Chelsea attacker Diego Costa, according to the Daily Mirror. The 28-year-old made no secret of his desire to return to Atletico Madrid and refused to return to Stamford Bridge, spending the close season in his native Brazil.
Recently returning to London, the Spanish international hasn’t relented in the pursuit of his dream move to the Spanish capital. Atleti recently extended the contract of manager Diego Simeone and his relationship with Costa is a key factor in the striker’s thinking.
Los Colchoneros distanced themselves from the row between the player and the west London club, fearful of repercussions when Chelsea set the fee for Costa’s departure. They order their former player to resolve the matter and it’s this intervention which forced his return to Stamford Bridge.
It’s expected that the two clubs will agree a fee of €60m with the suggestion that this could be as quickly as today. That would suit Atletico; they cannot register the transfer until 1st January 2018 so have three months to work on Costa’s match sharpness with the target of unleashing him on La Liga after the Christmas break.
That leaves Costa four months to prove himself to Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui ahead of next summer’s World Cup finals.
