Chelsea’s unsettled striker Diego Costa is willing to sit on the sidelines for four months in order to facilitatehis return to Atletico Madrid, according to reports.
Costa netted 20 goals in the Premier League last season to help the Blues win the league, but has been told that he can move on this summer.
Antonio Conte made it clear that the Spaniard was no longer part of his plans at Stamford Bridge, with the former Italy boss hoping Romelu Lukaku can be Chelsea’s new talisman.
Costa is now keen to clinch a move to Atletico, where he enjoyed four productive years before signing for Chelsea in 2014.
The Spanish club’s hopes of signing players this summer took a hit after they were issued with a transfer ban, meaning new additions would be unable to play any competitive games until January.
However, according to Sky Sports, this is not an issue for Costa, who is prepared to give up four months of football to ensure he re-joins Diego Simeone’s charge.
Costa, who has scored 52 goals in 89 league games for Chelsea, was close to leaving Stamford Bridge last summer and only decided to stay due to Conte.
But the 47-year-old manager has lost patience with the fiery forward and hopes the club can move him on before the squad return for pre-season training.
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