Chelsea Transfer News: Diego Costa, Atletico Madrid, Everton
IT’S about to get even uglier between Diego Costa and Chelsea, with Atletico players begging the striker to stay calm, while a rival PL manager opens the door to a shock loan.
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DIEGO Costa has released a statement saying he will not return to Chelsea and he “must return to Atletico Madrid”.
Costa is currently in his native Brazil and has threatened to remain there rather than return to London, and then leave on a free transfer.
Such a scenario is not acceptable to Chelsea, though, who want the player to return to training and put himself in contention for selection.
In the statement, Costa said: “My destination has already been decided. I must return to Atletico Madrid.
“It turns out that there is the impasse that Chelsea do not want to release me. But I believe that this situation will be resolved now on my return to Spain.”
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte reportedly texted Costa in June informing the striker he was not part of his future plans, and the striker has since remained in his native Brazil.
The 28-year-old’s lawyer, Ricardo Cardoso, said last week his client intended to hand in a formal transfer request and is considering legal action against Chelsea in order to force through a move to former club Atletico.
Chelsea’s stance remains unchanged from Monday in that they want Costa to return to the club, return to training, get match fit and put himself in contention for selection.
Atletico Madrid captain Gabi has weighed into the saga, saying Costa should “respect” Chelsea’s badge even though he wants to leave.
Gabi has urged former team-mate Costa not to dishonour Chelsea in his attempts to force through a move, though.
“From what I know, Atletico Madrid want to sign him and he wants to join,” Gabi said at a press conference.
“But of course, there is Chelsea in the middle and when you are part of a club you must respect the badge and try and leave in the best way.”
Midfielder Koke added: “If Costa joins then he will help the team as he always did, we know he is a great player but right now he is a Chelsea player and I cannot tell you any more.”
Meanwhile, if the impasse continues, Everton have emerged as a random solution.
Toffees manager Ronald Koeman has admitted he would be open to signing Chelsea forward Diego Costa on loan.
Costa is surplus to requirements at Chelsea, but has been told he must return to training despite having no future at Stamford Bridge.
Atletico are unable to register any new players this summer having had their appeal against their transfer ban rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in June, meaning Costa would not be able to feature until January if he did complete a move back to the club.
Having secured the £45m club-record signing of midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson on Wednesday, Koeman has set his sights on adding another striker to his squad and hinted at a possible move for Costa.
When asked whether further signings would be “permanent or temporary”, Koeman said: “Is this about Costa?
“Of course you like to sign players for the future, but if you can get the best one that way, then why not?”
“That’s for six months, the season, two years.
“It’s difficult because it needs to be a quality player, or a young player who can develop or improve.
“We have the possibility maybe to sign good players, but we don’t play in the Champions League - and that sometimes makes things very difficult.”
Originally published as Chelsea Transfer News: Diego Costa, Atletico Madrid, Everton
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