Chelsea transfer news: Jose Mourinho puts Diego Costa at the top of his shopping list

 
Simon Johnson28 January 2014

Chelsea have made Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa their first-choice target to strengthen their attack in the summer.

Manager Jose Mourinho says signing a top-class forward is his priority having already confirmed he is unable to buy one in the current transfer window.

Standard Sport revealed earlier this month that Wayne Rooney, who is set to sign a new contract at Manchester United, had been relegated to the bottom of his wish-list after the transfer saga of last summer.

Costa has now emerged as Mourinho’s prime target and has played a major role in helping Atletico challenge Real Madrid and Barcelona for La Liga this term by scoring 23 goals.

The Spain international, who shares the same agent as Mourinho in Jorge Mendes, has a £32million buy-out clause and is committed to staying for the rest of the campaign.

Significantly, however, Atletico manager Diego Simeone recently admitted no player was “indispensable” from his high-flying squad.

Chelsea are determined to test that theory and secure a deal for the 25-year-old in the summer. They are confident an agreement will be reached for the Brazilian-born striker.

The two clubs have a strong relationship, with Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois spending three successive seasons on loan in Madrid.

Atletico hope to sign Courtois on a permanent basis and it has been reported in Spain a straight swap could take place.

Courtois has yet to sign an extension on his contract at Chelsea, which expires in 2016, and has revealed he will only return if he is promised regular first-team football.

Chelsea have looked at other forwards but Monaco’s Radamel Falcao has suffered a serious knee ligament injury, while his fellow Colombian, Porto’s Jackson Martinez, is considering signing a new contract at the Portuguese club.

Another long-term option, Edinson Cavani, also continues to be linked and is unsettled at Paris Saint-Germain but he will cost in excess of £50m.

Chelsea have Samuel Eto’o, Fernando Torres and Demba Ba in their squad while Romelu Lukaku is on loan at Everton. Lukaku is expected to be part of Mourinho’s plans next season but the futures of the other three are all in jeopardy having scored just 19 times between them.

Ba looks certain to leave, Eto’o is expected to move to the MLS while Torres is still struggling to justify his British record £50m fee.

Meanwhile, it has been reported in Germany that Chelsea are ready to compete with Manchester United for the signing of Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos. The Germany international has yet to agree a new deal with the Champions League holders and is out of contract in 2015.

Mourinho is expected to make more changes to his squad and will be on the look-out for another midfielder having allowed Michael Essien to join AC Milan, while Frank Lampard may not be offered a new deal.

United are keen on Kroos’s services, too, and the player said today: “I am unable to rule anything out. Actually there are yet no further talks [regarding a new contract] scheduled. There are worse situations in life. I play for a top club and under a top coach. Sometime in the future a decision will be made.”

Chelsea take on West Ham at Stamford Bridge tomorrow night but the game will come too soon for Mohamed Salah to make his debut after completing an £11m switch — which could rise to £15m — from Basle at the weekend.

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