Chelsea close in on €42.5m Diego Costa deal

The Blues have held meetings with the striker's camp over the past month and are near to securing an agreement to bring the Atletico Madrid star to Stamford Bridge in the summer
EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey

Chelsea are close to clinching the €42.5 million signing of Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa.

Representatives of the Londoners have held a series of meetings with Costa's camp over the last month and further talks are planned around the Champions League semi-final first-leg clash between the two teams.

Chelsea have indicated in discussions that they are willing to pay €42.5m for the striker, although a significant portion of the transfer fee includes agents' fees.

The Europa League champions are also prepared to more than triple the wages of Costa, who is believed to earn around €61,000-a-week at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.

The west Londoners are keen to tie up the deal before the end of the season and ahead of Costa departing for the World Cup, where he is expected to be an integral member of the Spain squad trying to defend their 2010 crown.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone cleared the way on Tuesday for Costa to leave by admitting that his side were powerless to stop him being sold to a club of Chelsea's financial might.

"It will depend on [Costa] and what he thinks is the best for his future," Simeone told AS. "I will support any decision he makes. It's natural that Chelsea are interested in him. That makes me happy because my aim and that of my coaching staff is to see our players improve.

"We understand that Chelsea have huge financial power and, if he wants to live off football for the rest of his life, I will have no problem in him going. It was like Radamel Falcao, how could I tell him not to go to Monaco?

"Samuel Eto'o is getting older and Diego Costa could do his thing there but, for now, he is ours."