Atletico Madrid hope to land exiled Chelsea ace Diego Costa in January in £40million deal when their 18-month transfer ban ends
Rojiblancos president Enrique Cerezo says he is "hopeful" the Spanish international will join in the next transfer window
ATLETICO MADRID hope to land exiled Chelsea ace Diego Costa in January in a £40million deal when their Fifa-imposed transfer ban ends.
Rojiblancos president Enrique Cerezo revealed he is "hopeful" the Spanish international will join in the next transfer window... along with "many others".
Atleti were banned from making any signings for two transfer windows by Fifa last year after breaching rules over the transfer of foreign players under the age of 18.
They were also slapped with a monster £622,000 fine for their actions.
But the La Liga giants' president Cerezo is now hoping to land their former star Costa - frozen out at Antonio Conte's Chelsea - when their ban ends in January.
Cerezo said: "We cannot sign anyone until January, hopefully by then Costa and many others will come."
Costa has been snubbed at Chelsea following a summer fall-out with Blues boss Conte.
Most recently he was NOT registered for this season's Champions League, only further showing he is not in the West London club's plans.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
As Atletico can't make a move until January - with a fee of around £40m expected - Costa could be set for a short-term loan.
Turkish giants Besiktas were the most recent club to throw their name into the hat, with a host of teams interested in the four-month move.
The club have already made one marquee signing this summer, bringing in former Real Madrid hard-man Pepe.
Now he is set to end his self-imposed exile in Brazil to return to England in order to conclude the deal.
