Atletico Madrid are said to be intent on bringing Chelsea FC man Diego Costa back to the Vicente Calderon this summer. However, reports suggest that the Blues are not too eager to sell the Spaniard.
Costa had moved from Atletico Madrid to Chelsea for around £32 million back in 2014. Costa was in tremendous form in his first season at the English capital, scoring 20 goals in the Premier League to help Chelsea win the title.
However, he had a dismal second season with the club, and Chelsea finished 10th in the league. The season was marked by temperament issues, rather than his ability to score goals.
According to the Daily Express, Chelsea are not prepared to let Costa go cheaply, as incoming manager Antonio Conte wants to keep the 27-year-old.
Atletico manager Diego Simeone has reportedly been looking to bolster his team’s offensive prowess over the summer, as Fernando Torres’s loan spell from Inter Milan has ended.
Here are a few strikers Atletico could buy if they fail to bring Costa back to the Vicente Calderon.
Edinson Cavani (PSG)
Cavani is a forward who can play both as a central striker and as a wide player, which makes him a very good option for a strike partnership with Antoine Griezmann.
The PSG striker has reportedly not been too happy at the French capital and is said to be looking for a move. Cavani has long been overshadowed by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has been the first-choice striker at PSG. The lack of opportunities is said to have irked the 29-year-old, who is reportedly looking for greener pastures.
However, signing Cavani may turn out to be a bit of a difficult task for Atletico, as Ibrahimovic’s contract with PSG has run out and the Swede has decided to leave the club. This could potentially promote Cavani to the status of first-choice striker at the French club.
Moreover, PSG are unlikely to be willing to let the Uruguayan go cheaply, especially because they had to shell out around £50 million to sign him from Napoli.
Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli)
Higuain is a hard working striker who likes to chase seemingly lost causes, and closes down the opposition defenders. This attribute makes him the perfect signing for Atletico, as they play a very similar style of football.
Having set an Italian top flight goal-scoring record, Gonzalo Higuain is now being targeted by a number of top clubs across Europe. However, Higuain is a fan favourite at the San Paolo, and Napoli are likely to try to hold on to their talismanic striker, who was brought over from Real Madrid for £31 million.
The Rojiblancos would have to cough up much more than that to land the former Real Madrid man. Transfermarkt suggest that his value has soared up to more than £45 million.
Alexandre Lacazette (Olympique Lyon)
However, the 25-year-old is said to be looking for a move away from Lyon, after he was overlooked for the French national squad for Euro 2016.
Atletico will have to fend off some competition if they want to sign Lacazette. According to the Daily Mirror, last season’s Premier League runners-up Tottenham Hotspur are also said to be interested in signing the 25-year-old.
The report suggests that Spurs are prepared to shell out around £30 million for the Frenchman. However, a move to North London might not be so beneficial for Lacazette, as he is more likely to play second fiddle to established striker Harry Kane. Atletico Madrid have a big advantage in this regard, as they are looking for a striker to play alongside French international Antoine Griezmann.
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