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ATLÉTICO | DIEGO COSTA

Atlético keen on Costa return

Los Rojiblancos have made Chelsea's Diego Costa their primary transfer target for next season, club president Enrique Cerezo has admitted.

Update:
Chelsea's Brazilian-born Spanish striker Diego Costa chases the ball during the English Premier League football match between Watford and Chelsea at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London on February 3, 2016. / AFP / ADRIAN DENNIS / RESTRI
ADRIAN DENNISAFP

Atlético Madrid have made the return of Chelsea striker Diego Costa to the Vicente Calderón their primary transfer target for next season, club president Enrique Cerezo said on Thursday.

Atlético have money to spend after selling Colombian international Jackson Martínez to Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande for 42 million euros on Wednesday.

And Cerezo now has his sights set on Costa, who fired Los Rojiblancos to the La Liga title in 2013/14 before joining Chelsea.

"We will try everything possible and see what Chelsea say, but it doesn't depend solely on us. We always try to bring the best players and Diego is one of them," Cerezo told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope.

Martínez's departure was the latest demonstration of the growing financial power of Chinese clubs, but also came as a relief to Atlético as they made a profit on the 35 million euros they paid for the misfiring striker just six months ago.

The 29-year-old scored just three times in 22 appearances and made just one start in La Liga since November.

"It was a magnificent deal for the three parties. Very good for the club that have bought him, magnificent for us and also for the player," added Cerezo.