Everton were keeping number 19 shirt free for Chelsea ace Diego Costa, reveals Nikola Vlasic

THE TOFFEES were holding out for ex-Chelsea striker Diego Costa by keeping his number 19 shirt vacant.

The Spanish striker agreed a deal to return to his former club Atletico Madrid, but flirted with a move to Merseyside.

EPA

EPA

Vlasic had to settle for the No 27 shirt when he found out 19 wasn’t up for grabs.

“No.27 was free, I wanted 8 but Ross Barkley wears it, while the club was keeping 19 for Diego Costa,” he told 24sata

Costa failed to report for Chelsea training for months, and he desperately tried to force a move back to his boyhood club Atleti.

Eventually the deal was pushed through, but the striker isn’t able to play for the Spanish side until January, due to their transfer ban.

Reuters

The 29-year-old prolific forward would’ve proved an impressive coup for Everton, who have struggled for goals this season, often reliant on youngster Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

That marquee signing, along with their £100m outlay on the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wayne Rooney could have saved ex-boss Ronald Koeman his job.

PA:Empics Sport

PA:Empics Sport

Dutchman Koeman was sacked on Monday, after leading his side to the relegation zone, on just eight points after nine games.

The nail in the coffin was Everton’s 5-2 defeat at the hands of Arsenal on Sunday, after going 1-0 up through Wayne Rooney.

PA:Empics Sport

On his former manager’s dismissal, Vlasic said: “I’m sorry that Koeman got sacked, because he bought me and we had a really good relationship, but that’s football.

“Everton is a great club for young players like Jordan Pickford, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ademola Lookman, Tom Davies, me. We all get chances; I’m satisfied.”