Diego Simeone tells Atletico Madrid board to hurry up and sign £50m-rated Chelsea striker Diego Costa
AC Milan have entered the race for unhappy Blues striker - but Costa snubbed a loan move
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ATLETICO MADRID boss Diego Simeone has told his board that they need to hurry up and sign Diego Costa, according to reports.
The Chelsea star is set to leave Stamford Bridge after a huge row with Antonio Conte, despite winning two Premier League titles in three years.
As SunSport revealed, AC Milan are also in the race of the Spanish international - but Costa has snubbed a loan move to Serie A as he wants to return to Atletico.
The Blues want £50million for Costa, 28, but the La Liga side have only offered £26m so far.
That's £6m less than what Chelsea paid to bring him to west London in 2014.
And, according to the , Rojiblanco boss Simeone wants his club to get a move on and make the deal happen as soon as possible.
Chelsea know that AC Milan's interest should speed up Costa's departure - and keep the price close to their valuation.
The striker is currently banned from Chelsea's Cobham training ground and has been keeping fit on his own in Brazil.
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Diego Costa factfile
- Diego Costa was born on October 7, 1988, in Lagarto, Brazil.
- The striker made two appearances for Brazil in 2013 before switching to become a Spain international.
- The 28-year-old began his career at Brazilian outfit Barcelona EC.
- He signed his first professional contract with Braga but failed to make an appearance for them after being loaned out to Penafiel.
- Costa then signed for Atletico Madrid in 2007 but was instantly loaned back to Braga and only made six appearances.
- But he was then loaned out to Celta Vigo and Albecete - where he made over 30 appearances at both clubs.
- Costa then moved to Valladolid for a season before returning to Atletico Madrid permanently again in 2010.
- This is where he made a name for himself before moving to Chelsea for £32million in 2014.
- Costa has won the La Liga title and Copa del Rey with Atletico Madrid and the Premier League twice and the League cup with Chelsea.
Atletico are currently under a transfer embargo and would not be able to bring him to the Spanish capital until January.
That could leave Chelsea having to shell out almost £4million in wages, with Costa currently on a £185,000-a-week deal.
Costa will not play again for Chelsea after a public falling out with the manager.
The striker, the Champions' top scorer last season with 22 goals, made public a text message row he had with the Italian.
He was then seen partying in an Atletico Madrid shirt - and mocking Conte - on social media, before 'liking' a picture of Alvaro Morata joining the Blues.
