Calciomercato.com

Atletico Madrid make their opening offer for Chelsea outcast

Atletico Madrid make their opening offer for Chelsea outcast

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone wants Chelsea outcast Diego Costa to return to the Spanish capital. Spanish portal Don Balon mirrors recent reports in the English press that Atleti are prepared to offer the Premier League champions €30M for the 28-year-old, provided the West London club keep him at Stamford Bridge until December.
 
The Spaniards are also understood to have told Chelsea that they will only pay the fee if the player is not registered in Antonio Conte’s Champions League squad for the group stages which would make Costa eligible to play in 2018 if Atleti progress to the knock-out phase of the competition.
 
With offers not exactly flooding in and with the player’s relationship with Conte at an all-time low, Chelsea are in a difficult position. AC Milan were interested in a possible loan-deal but then baulked at the player’s wages. Chinese clubs have also expressed an interest but Costa is believed to be reluctant to go to the Far-East ahead of next summer’s World Cup Finals in Russia.