Marksman has a buyout clause in his current Atleti deal worth £33m.
Chelsea head coach Jose Mourinho wants to complete a deal to sign prolific Atletico Madrid front man Diego Costa before the start of this summer’s World Cup in Brazil gets under way in less than a month’s time, according to reports in the Daily Mail.
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The red-hot Brazil-born striker is currently enjoying a brilliant campaign in front of goal for the La Liga leaders, with Costa’s goals having gone a long way towards firing Diego Simeone’s surprise outfit to the verge of an unlikely league and Uefa Champions League double in this campaign.
Costa, 25, has so far managed to register 36 goals and seven assists in total in his 49 matches in all competitions, including 27 strikes and five assists in his 34 league outings for Atleti, and it is those kind of attacking numbers that have not only persuaded Spain to call Costa up to represent them recently, but also to convince Mourinho to splash the cash on the forward when the summer transfer window reopens for business.
And now it is understood that the self-styled Special One wants a deal for the Spain international to be concluded as soon as possible so that none of the Blues’ rivals can attempt to hijack it.
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