Thursday saw the beginning of another transfer saga after Diego Costa revealed that Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has told the striker he does not figure in the club’s plans for next season.
It is now almost certain that Costa will be playing elsewhere next season, but where?
There are few clubs that can afford the Chelsea striker, although they will likely be aided by Conte’s desire to get rid of him and Costa’s own desire to be elsewhere.
BOOM! Diego Costa: "Conte sent me a text saying he doesn't count on me.Shame. I forward the text to Chelsea people. I'm looking for a club"
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) June 7, 2017
Here are five possible destinations for the Spanish striker.
CHINESE SUPER LEAGUE
A big-money move to the Chinese Super League has long been mooted for Costa. He was reportedly the subject of a huge bid in January which left him unsettled and temporarily dropped from the Chelsea starting XI.
However, Costa’s biggest motivation at the moment is the 2018 World Cup. Would he still be an automatic selection for Spain if he left one of the Europe’s top five leagues for China?
ATLETICO MADRID
A return to Atletico Madrid has been Costa’s dream move for quite a while. The Madrid club is where Costa made a name for himself, catching then-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s eye with some dominant performances as Atletico won La Liga and reached the Champions League final in 2014, and the Spanish striker recently said his preferred destination for a move would be a return to the Spanish capital.
However, Atletico wouldn’t be able to register Costa as one of their players until January due to their transfer ban. Costa alluded to this on Thursday, again citing football’s showpiece tournament, saying he wasn’t sure he could afford to not play until January in the season before the World Cup.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Jose Mourinho got the best out of Diego Costa in one season, and then didn’t, the next. How would a reunion play out?
Manchester United are in need of a dominant striker and Costa would certainly fit the bill. He comes with Premier League experience, which would make him a better option than someone like Alvaro Morata. But would Costa and Mourinho be able to patch up their relationship?
More importantly, would Chelsea sanction a move that would strengthen a direct title rival?
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Any time there’s a big-money transfer being mooted, PSG are sure to crop up as a potential destination. The Parisian club could be looking to make a statement in the transfer market after a disappointing season.
However, they are said to have nearly agreed the transfer of Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. PSG could likely still afford a bid for Costa, but how necessary would that be when they’re adding Aubameyang to an attack that includes last season’s Ligue 1 top scorer Edinson Cavani?
A strike force of Cavani, Aubameyang, and Costa would definitely be formidable, but PSG would probably be better served spending that money strengthening their midfield and defence.
AC MILAN
The Italian side are the wild card in this transfer saga. AC Milan are under new ownership and are desperate to quickly make it back to the top of the tree in Italy. Costa would be a statement signing, signaling the club’s intent to become a rival to Juventus again, as well as a show of strength in the transfer market.
BREAKING: AC Milan are in talks with Diego Costa’s agent about a possible deal for the Chelsea striker - Sky sources #SSNHQ
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) June 8, 2017
Costa would slot straight into Milan’s starting XI, meaning he’d have a guarantee of playing time, which is what matters most to him, and he’d also be the main man at a time looking to make quick progress. The perfect match?
