Chelsea boss Antonio Conte close to flogging wantaway striker Diego Costa to Atletico Madrid in £30m deal

CHELSEA are finally nearing £30million agreement with Atletico Madrid to get rid of Diego Costa, according to reports.

The Spanish international has been desperate for a move back to La Liga but a deal looked far away between the two clubs.

PA:Empics Sport

Getty - Contributor

But the Mirror are reporting negotiations are in an advanced stage with a £30million compromise close to being finalised.

Atletico must find a club for Costa to join on loan until January when their transfer ban is lifted.

Costa has been trying to seal a move all summer after being told by Antonio Conte he was no longer needed at the club.

The striker has yet to return to Stamford Bridge after spending most of his summer in his native Brazil.

And he even showed his intentions of moving back to the club he left for Chelsea in 2014 by posting a video of him wearing the Atletico shirt.

Everton are in the running to sign Costa on loan as they continue to look for additions to their squad.

PA:Press Association

Boss Ronald Koeman still wants another striker to help fill the void left by the departure of Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United.

When asked about the possibility, Koeman said: “I don’t know, I said always a warm welcome for every good player and he’s a good player.

“We are still looking to bring a striker in.

PA:Empics Sport

PA:Press Association

“I’m really happy with the performances of Dominic (Calvert-Lewin), but he’s still young and we need more competition in front with the strikers.

“You need competition and the most difficult things for young players is being regular in performances, but Dominic is like Tom Davies, exceptional, and he’s doing really well.”

Keep up to date with all the latest news, gossip, rumours and done deals in SunSport’s live transfer blog