AC Milan have reportedly emerged as suitors for Diego Costa, with Atletico Madrid dropping out of the race to sign the Chelsea striker.
According to a report in TransferMarketWeb, AC Milan have established themselves as the front-runners in the race to sign Diego Costa after Atletico Madrid’s transfer embargo made them ineligible to register players in the summer transfer window.
Costa made a blistering start to 2016/17, as his early season form saw him shepherd Chelsea’s successful Premier League title winning campaign. However, as the season progressed on, the player experienced a significant slump in form, while also reportedly being mired in several controversies – both on and off the field.
Costa, though, still finished the Premier League campaign with a superb tally of 20 goals and 8 assists in the Premier League, and his match-winning performances in various odd-goal wins was a key factor in Chelsea’s title run.
However, his future at Chelsea has been a subject of rampant speculation, with reports suggesting that he could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge this summer. Rumours have also been rife that Costa has signed a pre-contract agreement with Tianjin Quanjian in a deal that would make him the highest earner in the world.
Meanwhile, the 28-year-old was also being linked with a summer return to Atletico Madrid. But with the Court of Arbitration for Sport upholding their summer transfer ban, Los Rojiblancos have been forced to drop out of the race to sign the player in the summer.
Costa, though, has become the subject of interest from AC Milan, with the Serie A club considering making a bid to land the Spain striker in the summer transfer window. In fact, the Rossoneri have already started talks with the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes over a possible move.
Milan are set for a overhaul this summer, as their new owners are willing to bankroll several big-money moves to create a squad capable of challenging for the Serie A title again.
The Italian side is determined to land a top striker, with Carlos Bacca failing to live up to his billing and Gianluca seen as more of a squad player. Costa can, thus, provide just the solution that Milan are looking for while also providing his best years to Vincenzo Montella’s side.
The 28-year-old, though, has gone on record to insist that he would only leave Chelsea for Atletico, and it remains to be seen if his stance changes with the enforcement of their transfer ban, with Milan ready to make a move for him this summer.