Diego Costa has undergone a medical with Chelsea ahead of a heavily-anticipated £32m transfer from Atletico Madrid. The Spanish striker scored 32 times as Madrid won La Liga and reached the Champions League Final in a fantastic season at the Vicente Calderon.
Costa was part of the Madrid team that knocked Chelsea out in the semi-finals of the Champions League, and even scored from the penalty spot in the 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge. He has been linked with Chelsea for months and looks set to end the speculation over his signing if he completes personal terms with the club.
The deal looks set to be worth £32m – the buyout clause in Costa’s contract – with the striker able to negotiate a higher wage than he was earning at Atletico. It is a shame for Atletico, who look set to lose plenty of their star players who served them so well last year. David Villa and Thibaut Courtois have already left, winger Koke is being chased by Barcelona, and Chelsea are also keeping tabs on full-back Felipe Luis.
Chelsea suffered up front last season, with their three forwards contributing just 19 strikes all season. Fellow Spaniard Fernando Torres will link up with Costa when the pair return from international duty following the World Cup, as will Demba Ba. Samuel Eto’o is a free agent and Chelsea have not expressed any desire to keep the Cameroon stalwart.
Costa’s attributes will be perfect for the Premier League as he is a compromising bully of a striker, always causing problems up front. He backs up his brutality with a sharp eye for finishing, and will be the closest sort of player Chelsea have had up front since Didier Drogba left.
[…] for Chelsea, they await the confirmation from Diego Costa as he completes personal terms ahead of a £32m move from Atletico Madrid. Both Spaniards would make Mourinho’s Blues a real force in next […]