Chelsea have moved to dismiss an approach from Atletico Madrid for star striker Diego Costa.
The Spanish heavyweights—who currently lead the Liga BBVA table—are keen to re-sign their former hitman in order to see them over the line in the title race.
As such, the Mirror report that they have made an enquiry for the player, in a hopeful bid of bringing him back to the Spanish capital during the January transfer window.
The tabloid note that Chelsea rejected the prospect of selling the player outright, suggesting that it’s unlikely that Costa will leave—for Atleti or any other suitors—during the current window.
Regardless, their approach reaffirms just what an admirer Atletico coach Diego Simeone is of the player, and the Mirror note that while the Argentine coach may not get his man in January, he will surely be excited about working with Costa again at Stamford Bridge should—as mooted by the Daily Mail—he emerge as Jose Mourinho’s long-term successor in west London.
Even though interim Blues coach Guus Hiddink has managed to stave off interest in his striker for now, it appears likely that the Pensioners will lose some players during the January window.
Eden Hazard [The Guardian], Branislav Ivanovic [Mirror], Cesc Fabregas [Corriere dello Sport via the Daily Star], Loic Remy [Chronicle] and Radamel Falcao [Mundo Deportivo] are just some of the names linked to the exit door, and there’s still a high chance that there will be a swathe of outgoings before the window closes.
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