Diego Costa is set to undergo an Atletico Madrid medical this afternoon as his Chelsea career nears an end.
Diego Simeone appears to have got his man with a €60m (£53m) deal agreed, which would make Costa their record signing—ahead of Radamel Falcao after his €40m move from Porto in 2011.
The Spain international refused to return to the champions' Cobham training base this summer, instead remaining in Brazil in hope that Los Colochoneros could strike a deal to bring him back to Madrid.
Atletico failed to push through the move before the deadline, safe in the knowledge that Costa would not be able to play for them until January due to the club's transfer ban.
The 28-year-old hasn’t played for 98 days when he featured for La Furia Roja in a World Cup qualifier against Macedonia in June.
A deal could now mean Costa returns to Europe and begins training with his new (and old) team-mates in preparation for his second debut in January.
Costa's legacy at Chelsea will be a mixed one, with great success on the pitch, having led the side to two Premier League titles in three seasons.
But persistent problems with discipline, combined with frequent dips in form, pushed Conte to sell Costa in favour of Alvaro Morata.
The former Real Madrid star arrived in a £58m deal and has now claimed both his place for club and country.
