West Ham wanted to sign Chelsea outcast Diego Costa earlier in the current transfer window, KUMB has learned.
The 28-year-old has been in dispute with his current club after claiming they had treated him "like a criminal" and has failed to return to England since flying to China with the Chelsea squad last month for a pre-season tour.Embed from Getty Images
That led to West Ham trying to capitalise on the situation by enquiring into the Spanish striker's availability earlier in the summer.
However they were informed that the only club Costa is interested in joining is former employers Atletico Madrid, from whom he joined Chelsea in a £32million switch three summers ago.
Costa fell out with current Chelsea manager Antonio Conte following a row with fitness coach Julio Tous midway through last season. It was subsequently claimed that Conte informed Costa by text that he was no longer wanted at Stamford Bridge.
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Madrid are understood to have made an offer to re-sign Costa, but are reported to be some distance away from Chelsea's valuation of the player. West Ham signed Javier Hernandez as their main striker for the 2017/18 campaign instead.
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