Chelsea wants Morata as Costa seek Atletico return

Diego Costa will reportedly do whatever it takes to force a move back to Atletico Madrid as Chelsea look to cash in on Alvaro Morata.

Incoming Blues boss Antonio Conte is intent on signing a new forward this summer, with Costa said to be desperate to return to the Vicente Calderon.

AS carried a story claiming the Brazil-born Spaniard is considering no other option other than rejoining Diego Simeone, with the coach equally as keen to make the deal happen.

The Spanish outlet says Costa no longer wants to live in London and is “constantly on the phone to the club, his former teammates and his agent Jorge Mendes to try and force the deal.”

Atletico have £32million from the sale of Jackson Martinez, and Chelsea are likely to be open to offers given Costa’s reported unhappiness for the last year.

The Blues have made the signing of a new centre-forward a priority this summer, with Spain striker Morata their main target.

Moratta has spent the last two seasons at Juventus but the Serie A champions have confirmed that Real Madrid have activated a buy-back clause on the 23-year-old, with the Spanish giants likely to immediately sell on their former striker for a hefty profit.

The La Liga giants have a €30million option in place which they must exercise before July 15 and Juve have now claimed they will take up that option.

Juventus director Beppe Marotta told a press conference: “Real Madrid have exercised their clause for Morata.

“Now we just wait for the formal offer, then we see how to act but the chances of him remaining are little.”

Arsenal and Manchester United have also been linked with the forward, but reports in Italy over the weekend claimed Conte was “calling Morata every day” in a bid to get him to sign for Chelsea.