Chelsea Close In On Signing Diego Costa

Chelsea are confident of completing the £32million signing of Diego Costa after Atlético Madrid’s Champions League final clash against Real Madrid.

The clearest sign that the transfer is reaching the end-game is the fact Marina Granovskaia, the senior adviser to owner Roman Abramovich, is understood to have taken charge of the completion of the deal.

Chelsea have made it clear they are prepared to meet the £32million release clause in striker Costa’s Atlético contract and are willing to pay the 25-year-old £185,000 a week. Over the course of a five-year contract, Costa can earn just over £48million, which would take the entire cost of the transfer to £80million.
Atlético do not want the transfer to be announced before their Champions League final against Madrid rivals Real in Lisbon on May 24 and last night insisted it is yet to be finalised.

Chelsea are desperate to clinch Costa’s signing as early as possible to avoid a repeat of last year’s summer-long and fruitless pursuit of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney. There is also the danger that competition for Costa would heat up if he enjoyed a successful World Cup with his adopted country Spain.