Diego Costa is edging closer to a Chelsea exit after signing a pre-contract with Tianjian Quanjian, according to reports in Spain.
Cadena SER claim that Costa met with agent Jorge Mendes and four senior figures from Tianjin Quanjian at a restaurant in London last Friday to discuss a move to the Chinese Super League at the end of the season.
Later this month, the Spain international will sign his contract with the Chinese club, who have offered him a staggering €30 million (£25.3m) per season.
Tianjian Quanjian have not yet agreed a fee with Chelsea, but Cadena SER report that the Premier League leaders are fully aware of Costa’s situation and are expecting to receive a figure in the region of €90m (£76.1m).
Tianjian Quanjian wanted to sign Costa during their winter transfer window but failed with an £80m offer for the 28-year-old.
It’s understood that Chelsea’s hierarchy fear that Costa’s head has been turned following the lucrative offer from China and are expecting the Brazil-born striker to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
Costa has already admitted that he is unhappy with living in London and even old Antonio Conte during his first meeting with the Italian last year that he wanted to re-join Atletico Madrid.
Costa claims he ‘did all I could’ to force through a transfer but Chelsea, who had failed in their own moves for Alvaro Morata and Romelu Lukaku, stood firm and refused to sell.
Conte is looking to bolster his attacking options this summer and Chelsea are prepared to spend £70m on re-signing Lukaku from Everton, or landing Morata from Real Madrid.
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