Diego Costa to reject move to Juventus as Gonzalo Higuain No.2 as he wants Atletico Madrid switch… leaving Alvaro Morata to join Chelsea in summer window
Former Rojiblanco striker is desperate on a return to Spanish capital but won't be move to Turin to play second fiddle
DIEGO COSTA has turned down a move to Juventus as he is unwilling to play second fiddle to Gonzalo Higuain.
Chelsea are concerned over the striker’s recent slump in form — and believe it could have spawned from the fact his head was turned after a big-money offer from the Chinese Super League in January.
Antonio Conte is ready to let the Spaniard go in the summer as he seeks a player with more mobility.
Juventus are preparing for the possibility of losing Mario Mandzukic in the summer, and want a top-level striker to play as Gonzalo Higuain’s understudy.
Costa started the season like a train, but the goals have disappeared since the turn of the year.
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And is keen on a potential return to former club, Atletico Madrid — who are poised to lose Antoine Griezmann.
After nearly three years in England, Costa has yet to master the language and has struggled to completely settle in London.
Conte’s No.1 strike choice would be Alvaro Morata, though Zinedine Zidane is keen to keep him at Real Madrid.
The current Blues boss has been a big fan of the Spanish forward for years now — and it was his desire which brought him to Juventus in 2014.
However, Conte was offered the chance to manage Italy, and the pair never worked together.
He has remained a big fan of Morata ever since, and has made him his No.1 summer target.
For his part, the Spaniard is keen on finally playing under the former Azzurri boss and would fancy a move to Chelsea in the summer.
Despite knowing Zidane wants to keep him at the Bernabeu, he is firmly second-choice behind Karim Benzema.