Report: Monaco, Marseille join chase for Chelsea's Costa
Ligue 1 heavyweights Monaco and Marseille are reportedly throwing their hats in the ring for the services of Chelsea wantaway Diego Costa.
In Brazil on the heels of banishment from first-team duties, Costa has publicly expressed a desire to return to Atletico Madrid despite Los Colchoneros' inability to register new players until January courtesy of a transfer ban.
Despite the embargo, discussions between the two parties have allegedly taken place, but with the clubs at a stalemate over terms, the Evening Standard's Simon Johnson reports that both Monaco and Marseille have been alerted over Costa's availability.
The forward's words certainly support this, with Costa admitting, "If Atletico and Chelsea don't come to an agreement and Atletico don't make a big effort, I can't keep on wanting to play for a club that isn't going to make a bigger effort to try and sign me."
Amid speculation that Les Monesgasgues teen talent Kylian Mbappe is set for a blockbuster move to Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco appears compelled to boost its attack with a move for the enigmatic Brazilian-born Spain international. Should Monaco offload Mbappe and fellow PSG target Fabinho, Leonardo Jardim's lot would be flush with cash and be able to meet Chelsea's £50-million valuation.
Cote d'Azur brethren Marseille is absolutely enthusiastic about the player, with club president Jacques-Henri Eyraudormer sharing his opinion of Costa, saying, "I like his character, his grit and his sense of combat. He would marry very well with OM."
After missing out on Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud, Marseille is hoping to add a striker to Rudi Garcia's fold, and Olympique has plenty of experience luring exiled Premier League stars to the Stade Velodrome after Dimitri Payet secured a Ligue 1 return last January.
Boosted by the investment of American owner Frank McCourt and a promise to invest £180 million for transfers, Marseille has broadened its look for new players, and Eyraudormer is eyeing Costa.
"He has a complicated contractual situation. If a player ticks all the boxes, then we have shown that are able to do transactions. Why not? It must at least meet certain conditions. Nothing is impossible," Marseille's president added.