Chelsea were last night closing in on the £32million signing of Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa.
Jose Mourinho identified Costa as his primary transfer target as far back as January and the microscope was firmly fixed on the forward when Madrid took on Chelsea in the Champions League last month.
Blues supporters serenaded the Brazilian-born Spain international from the stands and Costa did his chances of impressing the watching Chelsea hierarchy no harm by netting a penalty as Aleti booked their spot in the final.
Costa has scored 27 times in 33 La Liga appearances for Atletico this campaign but is battling for fitness at the moment as he bids to make that showdown with Real Madrid in Lisbon and get ready for this summer’s World Cup.
Mourinho has already confirmed Samuel Eto’o will be leaving the club and the striker did not take part in the club’s traditional lap of honour following their final game of the season at Stamford Bridge.
The Special One sees Costa as the man to provide Chelsea’s firepower in 2014-15 and is looking to get a deal wrapped up before the big kick-off in Brazil in June 12, with a £32 million fee enough to meet the 25-year-old’s buyout clause.
Personal terms will not be a problem. Costa has already set his heart on a move to west London and Chelsea are reportedly set to triple his wages by offering a £150,000 a week salary at the Bridge.
No deal for Costa will be announced until after the conclusion of the Champions League final on May 24, with Atletico adamant their player must keep focused on the job at hand as they look to end the season in style.
