Friday, 20th December, 2013
Chelsea are readying a huge cash-plus-player deal to pry Diego Costa away from Spain next summer, according to Sky Italia.
Costa is banging in the goals for Atletico Madrid this season – 21 in 19 games – and has, unsurprisingly, been tipped for an even bigger club in the future.
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Arsenal have been potential suitors, ever since Arsene Wenger expressed his admiration, though it remains to be seen what comes of it.
However, Chelsea are looking to offer a good deal of money plus Romelu Lukaku next year should Atletico show the slightest hint of selling.
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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had previously stated there would be no movement by his club in the winter transfer window.
However, as with the previous summer, the Portuguese will analyse the club's needs, especially given that Lukaku is on a roll in his loan spell at Everton.
And a move for Costa will not be without a sense of precedent given the striker's links with Premier League clubs.
The 25-year-old came, by his own admission, close to joining Liverpool in the summer, but has been enjoying life in La Liga.
He surpassed the 20-goal mark with a brace against Valencia last weekend, to add to his four goals in three games in the Champions League already.
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