Diego Costa wants to leave Chelsea and return to Atletico Madrid
Spanish club’s president Enrique Cerezo believes a deal can be struck this summer to take striker back home
DIEGO COSTA wants to leave Chelsea and return to Atletico Madrid, according to the Spanish club’s president Enrique Cerezo.
The Spanish striker, 27, who was overlooked for Euro 2016, scored 43 goals in 94 appearances for Atletico before moving to Stamford Bridge in 2014.
Spanish newspaper AS claim he is available for around £39million, with the Blues having paid £32million for him.
Now it appears Costa, 27, is on Atletico's five-man striker shortlist as manager Diego Simeone seeks a new goalscorer for next season.
And Cerezo believes a deal to bring him home could be struck this summer, although he admitted there are hurdles to overcome first.
“We are there, he wants to come. But that is already complicated," Cerezo was caught saying on camera by Antena 3 Sports.
RELATED STORIES
Incoming Chelsea manager Antonio Conte reportedly wants to assess his new squad before deciding on transfers, so that rules out any move for Costa until after Euro 2016.
Conte has already begun his search for a new striker, with Everton's Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata of Juventus in his sights.
If Simeone doesn’t get Costa, he is said to have Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani or Gonzalo Higuain of Napoli lined up as alternatives.
Alexandre Lacazette and Kevin Gameiro of Lyon and Sevilla make up the manager's wishlist.