We all know Diego Costa wants to return to Atletico Madrid, that the La Liga powerhouse want him back and that Chelsea are looking to offload him. It’s been well chronicled how Chelsea Manager Antonio Conte cannot coexist with Costa and that the striker must inevitably part ways with Stamford Bridge.
Selling him back to Atletico is win-win-win, but it’s very complicated given the transfer ban slapped on the club. Nevertheless the situation must be figured it out somehow, and once it is the whole domino theory of Chelsea transfer moves can then be put into action.
It appears that the Diego Costa transaction wheels are now getting set into motion. Money talks, whether that’s Euros, pounds or madden coins, and that’s what it’s going to take to the ball rolling. Spanish publication Marca says Costa’s arrival at the Vicente Calderon is “increasingly likely.” Meanwhile The Guardian writes that: “Atlético Madrid are preparing to table a first formal bid with Chelsea for Diego Costa in the hope they can re-sign the Spain striker before his scheduled return for pre-season training at Cobham at the start of next week.”
Finally, a tweet from journalist Manu Sainz claims that “The signing of Diego Costa by Atletico will be official in the next few hours”, though it’s unclear just how few is few hours.” (h/t SB Nation)
It would be very surprising to see a Diego Costa deal announcement tomorrow, or the day after that, but it does really seem like the process is now getting underway.
It could then spark a flurry of Chelsea summer transfer window comings and goings. We continue to wait on the reportedly close signing of Tiemoue Bakayoko, which would then trigger the sale of Nemanja Matic to Manchester United. According to other outlets, Antonio Rudiger could be the next Chelsea addition this summer transfer window, as he reportedly has a medical scheduled this week.
There’s also some traction out there for Alex Sandro as well. The Diego Costa sale might just get this proverbial party started.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes to WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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