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- Diego Costa is the center of attention as window closes
It should come as no surprise that the rumors about Diego Costa are starting to pick up steam as we continue to hurdle toward the close of the transfer window. The following is a smattering from yesterday’s blotter.
-The Evening Standard suggest that a £41 million deal is in the offing between Chelsea and Atlético Madrid for the striker. Marseille, Monaco and Everton are listed as possible loan destinations until Atlético’s registration ban is lifted in January.
-Mundo Deportivo add UD Las Palmas, AC Milan and Deportivo de La Coruña to the list of possible loan destinations for the player.
-AS report that further rumors suggest offers ranging from €34 million to €45 million plus add ons. They also include a brief video of Costa working out in Brazil. A handful of such videos has been released by the player’s camp and from them we can confirm that Costa has worked out for at least 10 minutes this summer.
-Football Espana indicate that the future of fellow striker Luciano Vietto is tied up with the Costa saga. If Costa comes, Vietto goes, and vice versa.
-Goal take the refreshing route of announcing simply that no deal has been reached.
-The Bard reminds us that a transfer rumor is but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing.
Put another way—when there is something concrete to report you can be sure to find it here.
- Nico Gaitán returns to training
Mundo Deportivo report that Nico Gaitán has returned to practice with the small group of players not on international duty. The midfielder was sidelined over the weekend with an unspecified foot injury.
- Vitolo out of Spain squad
The “on-loan” winger picked up an MCL injury — thought to be minor — during training over the weekend, and as such, he has been removed from the squad and sent back to Spain to recover. As such, Julen Lopetegui has selected Real Madrid’s Lucas Vázquez to replace Vitolo ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Italy and Liechtenstein.
- Talking Point: What do you think was the most outrageous transfer rumor — Atlético-based or otherwise — of all time? Alternatively, if you were to start a transfer rumor tomorrow, what would it be?