Rumour: Chelsea step up Mandzukic interest as doubts grow over £30m Costa deal

Mario Mandzukic: Linked to all major clubs in the EPL

Chelsea are reportedly stepping up their interest in Mario Mandzukic to lead their forward line next season, with the Daily Star reporting that the Blues are having second thoughts about Diego Costa, given his injury struggles in the second half of the season.

The Atletico Madrid has been sidelined on numerous occasions this season with muscle injuries, with his latest injury putting Costa’s chances of appearing in the Champions League in doubt, with the newly-naturalised Spanish striker making a desperate bid to Serbian doctors for treatment involving horse placenta.

Costa was believed to be close to a move to Chelsea, but his failure to overcome injuries quickly enough and his attitude towards them hampering his recovery time have given Chelsea bigwigs food for thought and they have decided to look elsewhere to find alternatives.

Mario Mandzukic is the name in the frame should they opt against Costa, with the Croatian striker seeking a move away from Bayern Munich this summer after they signed Robert Lewandowski.

Mandzukic has been the regular starter for Bayern over the past two season, but the arrival of the Polish forward from Borussia Dortmund will almost certainly relegate him to a bench role, something he is unwilling to accept.

Chelsea are ready to take advantage of that and offer him a route away from the Allianz Arena, with a fee of £20million all that is believed it will take to seal his signature.