Chelsea are reportedly ready to call time on Diego Costa’s Stamford Bridge career by offering him back to Atletico Madrid in exchange for unsettled Colombian Jackson Martinez.
Costa has suffered a dramatic dip in form this season, finding the net only three times in the Premier League compared to his 20 goals in Chelsea’s 2014-15 title-winning campaign.
His disciplinary problems have also continued on and off the pitch, including a fallout with Jose Mourinho, who was sacked last week with the Blues languishing 15th in the table.
But Mourinho’s departure does not seem as though it will save Costa from the chop, with Fichajes reporting via Goal.com that Chelsea want to offload him to former club Atletico.
Goal.com adds that Madrid manager Diego Simeone would be very interested in the swap after seeing Martinez manage only two goals in 11 La Liga appearances since his summer arrival.
The 29-year-old cost £25m from Porto – fee reported by ESPN – but is now sidelined by injury and Atletico are also ready to cut their losses in order to get Costa back at Vicente Calderon.
Costa scored 54 goals in 114 appearances for Atletico and would be welcomed back with open arms. Chelsea might be happy to see him leave, so this potential deal could suit all parties.
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