(Football news) Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa is currently a free agent after his contract was terminated with Atletico Mineiro at the beginning of the year. That was despite the 33-year-old Spanish striker winning the domestic double in Brazil last season. Costa since then has been linked with a number of moves over the past seven months, including a shock switch to Championship with Birmingham City

Now the veteran striker may be returning to his former club in the La Liga where he had scored ten goals in 16 appearances in the Spanish top-flight for Vallecano during a loan spell back in 2012. They have allegedly been in talks with the Spanish striker to come back and partner ex-United and Chelsea ace Radamel Falcao in their attack. This report states they have offered Diego Costa a package worth around £70,000-a-week on a one-year contract. They could be in luck as the star and his family are allegedly keen on returning to live in Madrid and subsequently the city where Vallecano are based.

Should they be able to pull off the deal in time then he could be in line to even make his debut when Vallecano travel to Old Trafford on Sunday to take on Manchester United in what is going to be Erik ten Hag’s first home match since taking charge. Costa had spent two years with Atletico Madrid until 2020 prior to his spell back in Brazil. He enjoyed a successful three season stint at Chelsea after joining from Atletico in 2014 as he went on to score 52 goals in 89 Premier League matches for the Blues, winning the Premier League title twice and the Carabao Cup during that period. Diego Costa last season scored five goals for the Brasileiro Serie A side as they won a domestic double before leaving to become a free agent in January.

Rayo are offering him a one-year deal with an annual salary of €1 million to bring him back to Madrid and Costa was previously linked to Fenerbahce, but the move didn’t materialise. The move also presents a chance for Costa, who is now 33, to pair with former teammate Radamel Falcao. Costa and Falcao were lethal in the 2012/2013 season as a duo for Atletico Madrid, ultimately winning a Copa Del Rey title. It also set up Diego Simeone’s side for a league win the following season as both men may be in the twilight of their careers, but they have a lot to offer 

Andoni Iraola the former right-back will be hoping that Rayo can do better or at least maintain their 12th place La Liga finish this season despite their terrible form towards the end of the previous campaign. Los Vallecanos this season have already signed Salvi Sanchez, Diego Lopez and Unai Lopez on free transfers ahead of the 2022/23 season. They could boost their attack in this window immensely by signing Diego Costa for free. He may not be the striker he once was, but he has the experience and doggedness of Costa up top can only be a positive for any team.

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