Diego Costa of Atletico de Madrid celebrates scoring their second goal during the La Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and UD Almeria at Vicente Calderon Stadium
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is interested in signing Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa, despite facing stiff competition for his signature from London rivals Chelsea, report Mirror.
The Spaniard has a release clause in his contract with Diego Simeone’s side believed to be in the region of £31-35 million and is one of the most coveted players on the continent following his goal scoring exploits for the La Liga leaders.
Chelsea have been strongly linked with a move for the 25-year-old throughout the season with boss Jose Mourinho making no secret of his desire to make a marquee signing once the transfer window opens. But reports that claimed Chelsea had completed a deal for Costa now appear to have been wide of the mark.
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However, the Gunners have emerged as unlikely competition for the bulky front man as Wenger looks to bolster his own attacking line-up.
Olivier Giroud is the only senior centre forward at the club and his failure to sign a new recruit last season is widely believed to have cost Arsenal dearly in their title challenge as the Frenchman has obvious limitations.
Costa would represent an excellent addition for Arsenal as his powerful presence could provide much needed steel to the side.
The Blues are still in pole position to land the Brazilian born forward but Arsenal are waiting in the wings to show their hand on the matter with the huge price tag unlikely to deter them as it would have in recent years.
