FINALLY

Chelsea transfer news: Premier League champions confirm they have accepted an offer of £57million for Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid

Gary Stonehouse

Published: 15:28, 21 Sep 2017
Updated: 0:40, 24 Sep 2017

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CHELSEA have confirmed they have accepted an offer from Atletico Madrid for Diego Costa.

The wantaway striker is now due in the Spanish capital to undergo a medical before finalising his £57million return to his former side.

Chelsea have agreed a fee with Atletico Madrid for Diego CostaCredit: Alamy

Diego Simeone is set to reunite with former striker Diego Costa who played under him at Atletico MadridCredit: Rex Features

The 28-year-old faces several months of intense training as his new boss Diego Simeone prepares to whip him into shape.

Costa has been back in Brazil training alone after refusing to return to Stamford Bridge for pre-season and saying he had been "treated like a criminal".

He was informed by Blues manager Antonio Conte via text that he no longer figured in his plans after he helped fire Chelsea to the Premier League title last season.

He was told NOT to report back to England and has not been in action on the football pitch since, with the season now seven games in.

The Spain international has been linked with a number of clubs, but he has been adamant that he only wanted to go back to his old side.

However, he will not be able to play for Atletico until January.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte and Diego Costa fell out over text in the summerCredit: Getty - Contributor

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They are currently in the middle of a transfer ban which does not end until the turn of the year.

That means that Costa will not be able to play against Chelsea when the sides meet in the Champions League group stages.

But should he pass the medical and agree terms swiftly, he could find himself paraded on Wednesday as Atletico Madrid welcome the West Lononders to their new stadium.

Costa was cut out of the first-team squad by Antonio ConteCredit: AFP

Costa has made no secret of his desire to return to Atletico to work with Diego SimeoneCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Diego Costa has been training while in Brazil after refusing to come back to ChelseaCredit: Instagram @diegocosta

Simeone managed Costa between 2011 and 2014 and turned him into a goalscoring machine at the Calderon.

Now the club have a new lease of life inside their freshly-built stadium, the Wanda Metropolitano.

Atletico have made a typically dogged start to the La Liga season – with the club in third place on 11 points behind Barcelona, who have made a perfect start, and Sevilla.

Keep up to date with all the latest news, gossip, rumours and done deals in SunSport’s LIVE transfer blog

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