Everton transfer news: Ray Parlour backs Toffees to sign Chelsea striker Diego Costa

ARSENAL legend Ray Parlour thinks Everton should sign Diego Costa.

Diego CostaGETTY

Diego Costa has not returned to Chelsea training following the start of the season

Toffees boss Ronald Koeman this week admitted he would be open to signing the striker on loan.

Costa is surplus to requirements at Chelsea after a summer row with Antonio Conte. The club have told him he must return to training despite having no future at Stamford Bridge.

On whether Everton could swoop, Parlour told talkSPORT: "It's worth a go. If they can get him, they'd definitely be contenders for the top six."

Fellow talkSPORT pundit David Preece agreed and suggested the move could help Everton break the big boys' stronghold at the top of the Premier League.

He said: "Costa is still back in Brazil and Atletico Madrid are the only club he wants to go to but they can't buy him.

"Koeman was asked the question [of whether he'd sign him] and he came and said he wouldn't be averse to it.

"They've got the money for it, there's no doubt about that. They've got plenty in the bank.

"If they could get him on loan for a year that would be an absolute masterstroke.

"He's got to come to a point where he realises the situation at Atletico Madrid won't just resolve itself.

"He can't sit out in Brazil for a full year. It wouldn't do him any good because by the time he went to Madrid, he'd be out of shape and he won't be of any use for them.

Ronald KoemanGETTY

Ronald Koeman is still looking for a striker to fill Romelu Lukaku's place

Angry Chelsea fan calls Diego Costa a ‘BABY’

"It's the one thing Everton are missing now. All the signings they've made are going to keep them where they are.

"They may try and break into the top six and this signing would be a real show of intent from them.

"They've done the defensive part of it and now they need someone who will get them goals in tight games and who will make a difference.

"Diego Costa could do that. It might be a long shot for them but financially they could come up with a package no problem."

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