Blues begin negotiations to bring goal-machine to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have begun talks to sign Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa, according to the Express.
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The Blues have been linked with a host of leading strikers over the previous two summers but Jose Mourinho has reportedly decided the Brazilian-born Spain international is the man he wants to lead Chelsea’s line next season.
Mourinho is hopeful of tying up a deal for £35m-rated Costa before the World Cup, where he is expected to play a leading role as his adopted nation look to defend the trophy.
While Chelsea’s trio of senior strikers – Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Eto’o – have all struggled for consistency and, more importantly, goals, 25-year-old Costa has bagged 31 in 41 appearances for Atletico this term.
The Blues tried to sign Costa in January but he did not want to leave the Vicente Calderon mid-season – a decision that looks amply justified given that Diego Simeone’s team top the La Liga table with eight games left to play and are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Torres could return to his former club as a makeweight in a deal for Costa but any negotiations will exclude Thibaut Courtois, the 21-year-old goalkeeper who is enjoying his third consecutive season on loan at Atletico from Chelsea.