Chelsea is about to complete the deal sending striker Diego Costa to Atletico Madrid. Also, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain turned down his transfer to Stamford Bridge. According to sources, the winger is now working on a deal to join rival Liverpool on the final day of the European transfer window.
Costa’s return to Atletico Madrid
E.Fdez and Patricia Cazon of AS.com reported that Chelsea will be finalizing Costa’s transfer to the Spanish football powerhouse. Chelsea is now determined to unload Costa as they are about to acquire Fernando Llorente. “It appears likely that Fernando Llorente will arrive at Stamford Bridge, moving Diego Costa closer to Atlético.
Chelsea need to finance three transfers before the end of the window and the sale of Costa,” Fdez and Cazon noted.
The report also indicated Chelsea’s meeting with Atletico Madrid’s officials on Wednesday afternoon. The negotiation apparently gained traction after Chelsea decided to lower their asking price for Costa from $97 million to $77 million. They eventually agreed on a $64.3M sale, though Costa’s extended absence in London emerged as a stumbling block in the negotiations. Atletico officials are apparently concerned about Costa’s current fitness. With Atletico’s transfer ban still in place, Costa will have to wait for few months before Los Rojiblanco return.
Atletico Madrid’s suspension will not be lifted until January, giving Costa the options either to spend the next few months training in Madrid or accept a loan duty elsewhere.
If he chooses the latter, Las Palmas, Besiktas and Everton are viewed top landing spots for the Brazilian-born Spanish forward.
Liverpool to salvage Oxlade-Chamberlain
Glenn Price and Mark Ogden of ESPN reported that Liverpool contracted Arsenal to discuss a possible transfer deal involving Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The winger earlier rebuffed a deal that would have transferred him to Chelsea.
The 24-year old winger appears to be concerned over how Chelsea manager Antonio Conte will use him in the field.
As for potential transfer to Liverpool, the English international has no problem playing for the Reds. In fact, there are reports about his interest in playing under Jurgen Klopp. Oxlade-Chamberlain was just featured in an EPL match between Arsenal and Liverpool on Sunday, with the Reds decimating the Gunners 4-0 at Anfield.
“Talks between Arsenal and Liverpool are ongoing. Another source has told ESPN FC that Oxlade-Chamberlain has been keen on a move to Anfield to work with Jurgen Klopp for some time now,” per Price and Ogden.
Arsenal made efforts to shop the prolific winger to avoid the risk of losing him for nothing. His contract is set to expire 12 months from now, making it a must for Arsene Wenger to find a taker. Several teams inquired about Oxlade-Chamberlain’s availability, but Chelsea and Liverpool had the best offers.
