Diego Costa a target for Atletico Madrid, club president confirms

By Jack Wilkinson

Thursday 4 February 2016 18:06, UK

Diego Costa's future at Chelsea looks uncertain after his former club Atletico Madrid confirmed the Spain striker was their primary summer transfer target.

Atletico are in the market for a forward and have money to spend after Colombia international Jackson Martinez was sold to Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande for around £32m on Wednesday.

Costa is reported to have discussed the idea of returning to the Vicente Calderon, where he won La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Super Cup titles in a four-year stint before moving to Stamford Bridge.

And now Atleti club president Enrique Cerezo has confirmed the Madrid side have their sights firmly set on bringing Costa back to the club.

"We will try everything possible and see what Chelsea say, but it doesn't depend solely on us," Cerezo told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope.

"We always try to bring the best players and Diego is one of them."

Martinez's departure came as a relief to Atletico as they made a profit on the £26.9m they paid Porto for the misfiring striker just six months ago.

The 29-year-old scored just three times in 22 appearances for Los Rojiblancos and made just one start in La Liga since November.

"It was a magnificent deal for the three parties," Cerezo added. "Very good for the club that have bought him, magnificent for us and also for the player."