Chelsea are closing in on a deal to bring Spain international to Stamford Bridge for a fee that would match their transfer record.
Chelsea have agreed to sign Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid this summer in a €60 million deal (approximately £50 million), reports Spanish publication El Confidencial.
With Jose Mourinho unhappy with the contributions of his strikers this season, the Blues boss has made no secret of his intention to bring a top class centre forward to Stamford Bridge at the end of the campaign.
Radamel Falcao was top of Mourinho’s list until a rupture of his anterior cruciate knee ligament cut his season short, and Diego Costa could make a superb alternate option.
The Atletico Madrid attacker is a single minded striker whose first thought is always to shoot on goal, or – if not within striking distance – to dribble directly towards his target until he can fire in an effort.
Costa has scored 26 goals in 31 La Liga fixtures, as well as seven goals in six UEFA Champions League appearances, and would be a drastic improvement to the Blues forward line.
This season he switched allegiance from his country of birth Brazil to earn a call-up to the Spain national team, and his European passport would mean there would be no issue receiving a UK work permit.