Liverpool have bid €25m (£21.8m) for the Atlético Madrid
striker Diego Costa as the manager, Brendan Rodgers, looks to add quality to
his squad before the transfer deadline.
The Anfield club have moved for the twice-capped Brazil
international despite ongoing uncertainty over Luis Suárez's future and having
been frustrated on several big-money signings this summer. Liverpool's offer is
understood to meet the release clause in Costa's contract and the club are
hopeful the 24-year-old, and Atlético, will agree to a deal swiftly. Arsenal,
the only club to have made an offer for Suárez, have also been linked with the
Brazilian this summer.
Costa is a controversial figure in Spain with a chequered
disciplinary record but enjoyed his most productive campaign at Atlético last
season, scoring 10 goals in 31 league appearances and a total of 20 goals in 44
games. He had been expected to play a bigger role at Vicente Calderón this
season following the departure of Radamel Falcao to Monaco. However, the
arrival of David Villa and Léo Baptistão cast doubt on his claims to a regular
first-team place and the coach, Diego Simeone, has indicated Atlético would
consider allowing Costa to leave too.
Rodgers is determined to improve Liverpool's attack
irrespective of whether Suárez stays or goes, and with the club refusing to
countenance his sale to Arsenal for a sum of £40,000,001. Arsenal have not
returned with a higher offer since their second bid was rejected more than a week
ago and the striker has not sought Premier League intervention over a disputed
clause in his Liverpool contract.
"They have to be of the right quality, that's the
bottom line," said Rodgers of his remaining transfer targets for this
window. "We've got money to spend on getting that quality in, but if it's
not available I won't waste it for the sake of bringing a player in. We're
really working hard to bring in the type of profile that can really help us
push on. We just need to see if that's available and affordable."
Source http://www.theguardian.com
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