Stamford Bridge side set to sign La Liga hot-shot.
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Chelsea are reportedly closing in on a deal to bring in a much needed prolific marksman to lead the Blues attack with Goal.com claiming that Jose Mourinho is set to welcome Atletico Madrid ace Diego Costa to Stamford Bridge.
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The Brazilian born Spanish international has been in outstanding form this season, scoring 34 goals in all competitions and helping his Vicente Calderon side to the top of La Liga as well as the Champions League semi-finals.
Chelsea are to pay the 25 year old’s release clause fee, which has risen from €36m (£29.6m) to €42.5m (£34.9m) and will no doubt offer him a lucrative contract that will dwarf his current €61k (£50k) a week deal.
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has admitted he can’t prevent Costa from leaving this summer stating in an interview with Spanish source AS this week;
“It will depend on [Costa] and what he thinks is the best for his future,”
“I will support any decision he makes. It’s natural that Chelsea are interested in him. That makes me happy because my aim and that of my coaching staff is to see our players improve.
“We understand that Chelsea have huge financial power and, if he wants to live off football for the rest of his life, I will have no problem in him going. It was like Radamel Falcao, how could I tell him not to go to Monaco?
“Samuel Eto’o is getting older and Diego Costa could do his thing there but, for now, he is ours.”
Indeed Mourinho has himself questioned Eto’o’s age and the Cameroon international’s contract expires this summer and he seems likely to leave and this source claims that Fernando Torres and Demba Ba could also make Blues exits.
Chelsea are however set to talk with Romelu Lukaku’s representatives as the west London side consider welcoming the in-form forward back to the first team set-up after a stunning season on loan at Everton.