Transfer News: Arsenal offered chance to sign Diego Costa

Diego Costa is ready to play for Arsenal as he reportedly eyes a shock return to the Premier League in the January transfer window.

According to Todo Fichajes, Diego Costa is desperately looking for a new club after leaving Atletico Madrid a few weeks ago. The forward has had offers from Major League Soccer as well as Turkish Superlig clubs. However, he is aiming for a sensational return to the Premier League and has offered himself to Arsenal.

The report suggests that the Gunners are looking for a new striker to aid Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the second half of the campaign. His past record in the Premier League does make him an appealing target for the club as well, although the north London giants do have doubts over the attacker’s fitness.

Costa has indeed struggled with his health since returning to Atletico Madrid back in 2018. He has suffered from recurring hamstring injuries, as well as muscle, groin and a herniated disc. It has kept him out for the most part of his second spell with Atleti, prompting the Spanish giants to invest in other forwards like Luis Suarez and Alvaro Morata in recent years.

The former Chelsea star featured in just over 200 minutes of league football in the ongoing campaign at Wanda Metropolitano, falling behind the likes of Suarez, Joao Felix and Angel Correa in the pecking order before having his contract terminated by the Colchoneros. A move to Arsenal could, therefore, serve as an ideal opportunity for him to potentially revive his career.

The Gunners have had their fair share of problems regarding productivity in the final third this season. Star forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is already enduring the worst season of his professional career. As for Alexandre Lacazette, he has done a decent job but has been linked with a shock move to Atletico Madrid in January.

Arsenal have reportedly identified Odsonne Edouard as the primary replacement for Lacazette. However, the Celtic star could predictably cost a fortune, with a host of other top clubs across Europe also interested in his services – making Costa an appealing cost-effective alternative.

The Spanish international has a host of experience at the highest level of football as well as an excellent scoring record in the Premier League. Although the 32-year-old’s fitness record in recent years has been alarming, he could be an effective short-term solution to ease Mikel Arteta’s attacking woes during the second half of the ongoing campaign with Arsenal.