La Liga giants Atletico Madrid are on the verge of roping in wantaway Chelsa star Diego Costa, according to reports.
The Spanish striker is on the brink of getting his dream move back to the Spanish capital having spent the entire summer and the start of the new season AWOL in Brazil.
According to Sky Sports, Atletico have “made a breakthrough in negotiations over Diego Costa’s proposed move from Chelsea.”
The Spanish club is currently serving a transfer ban which means that they can sign new players but cannot register them until January.
Diego Costa is not wanted at Chelsea anymore after Antonio Conte had informed him that he is no longer in his plans via text message earlier this summer.
Costa made it clear that he wants to return to Atletico Madrid. There was plenty of talk that he might be bought by the Madrid side and loaned out until he could be registered for them in 2018.
But the Blues outcast failed to secure his move to former club Atletico Madrid last month.
The La Liga side have already agreed personal terms with Costa and are ready to pay him £9.1m-a-season.
Premier League Champions Chelsea have been at war with Costa as they did not succumb to the player’s demands and refused to lower the asking price for the Spaniard.
But, according to reports, Atletico have now made an improved offer in the region of £53million – matching Chelsea’s demands.
Both the clubs want the deal to be finalised before the two sides lock horns with each other in the Champions League on September 27.
According to reports, Costa has landed in the Spanish capital where he watched Atletico being held to a goalless draw against Roma on Tuesday night.
FootTheBall had earlier reported last week that Costa has moved his family back to Spain.
Pemier League champions Chelsea have now removed Diego Costa’s Range Rover from the first-team car park and dump it in the youth team bay at the club’s training ground.
The Blues have also cleared out his locker – making it clear that they have planned life without Costa.
Reports also suggest that Costa could now move to Saudi Arabia on a short-term loan to keep himself match fit until January.
According to the Daily Mail, Costa could move to Saudi club Al Hilal on loan as he cannot play until the New Year.