Chelsea set to bid for Atletico Madrid star Diego Costa

JOSE MOURINHO has earmarked scoring sensation Diego Costa as his major summer signing.

     CHELSEA BOUND?: Jose Mourinho will make a bid for Athletico Madrid striker Diego Costa

Costa has committed himself to staying with Atletico Madrid this season, but is aware of Chelsea’s interest.

Costa has a £32m buy-out clause in his contract and has been in stunning form this season.

The Brazil-born striker has scored 23 goals in 22 appearances, including four goals in three Champions League matches, with Atletico through to face Madrid in the last 16.

Arsenal also would love to land the 25-year-old.

                           Jose Mourinho is keen to add the Athletico striker to his strikeforce 

But the Blues appear to have an advantage with the player represented by Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes.
Amazingly, Atletico have let Costa go once already.
In the summer of 2009, he was sold to Real Valladolid as part of the deal that sent keeper Sergio Asenjo in the opposite direction.

The transfer included a buy-back option that could be activated by Atletico at the end of the season, which they did despite Costa scoring just seven goals in the campaign.
Last season he netted 12 times, but since the £51m sale of former team-mate Falcao to Monaco, he has flourished.

                  SENSATIONAL: Costa has scored 23 goals in 22 appearances this season 
 

Costa has also attracted controversy by snubbing Brazil and insisting he wants to play for Spain.
Despite playing in two friendlies for Brazil in March, six months later Spain made an official request to call up Costa, having been granted Spanish nationality earlier in the summer.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has blasted him for his actions, saying: “He is turning his back on a dream of millions, to represent our national team, the five-time champions in a World Cup in Brazil.”
He has yet to make his debut for his adopted country.