Ex Chelsea Striker Diego Costa Is Set for a Dramatic Return to England With Championship Side Birmingham City

Ex Chelsea Striker Diego Costa Is Set for a Dramatic Return to England With Championship Side Birmingham City

Martin Moses
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:02 PM
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  • Diego Costa could return to England as potential new Birmingham owner Maxi Lopez wants him to form a striking partnership with Troy Deeney
  • Costa has been without a club since January after terminating his contract with Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro where he helped them to a domestic double
  • The combative forward is best remembered for his Chelsea days where he won two Premier League titles before being turned away by Antonio Conte

Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa could make a dramatic comeback to English football with Birmingham City interested in his services. The championship side is currently involved in an ownership battle. One of the prospective new owners wants to sign Costa as his first player.

The current Chinese owners have put the club up for sale. Former Barcelona and AC Milan player Maxi Lopez is one of the frontrunners to take over at Birmingham. Lopez is understood to be ready to sign Costa as they gun for promotion next season.

Chelsea, Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, Willian, Maxi Lopez, Birmingham City, Atletico Madrid
Diego Costa of Chelsea celebrates scoring a goal during the Emirates FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on May 27, 2017. Photo by Mike Hewitt.
Source: Getty Images

Costa is currently a free agent after leaving Atletico Mineiro earlier this year. He terminated his contract despite leading them to reputable domestic success.

Costa and Deeney combination

The prospect of Costa forming a strike partnership with former Watford captain Troy Deeney is mouthwatering.

According to the Mirror, Lopez is part of a consortium that wants to manage Birmingham for two years before buying it eventually. He has partnered with Paul Richardson who is said to be a boyhood fan of the club.

Costa is undoubtedly a top striker on his good days. During his Chelsea days, he scored 52 goals in 89 appearances winning the Premier League twice. Antonio Conte deemed him surplus to requirements and he went back to Atletico Madrid.

During his two stints with Madrid, Costa won the Europa League once, the UEFA Super Cup thrice and two La Liga titles under Diego Simeone. He was released in December 2020.

Lopez now intends to give the abrasive 33-year-old a fresh start should he take over at St.Andrews. Birmingham are in desperate need of a facelift after finishing a lowly 20th in the just-concluded season.

Chelsea want to sign Nkunku

Sports Brief had earlier reported that Costa’s former club Chelsea are planning on bidding for RB Leipzig’s striker Cristopher Nkunku.

Chelsea have continued to struggle up front after failing to find an ideal replacement for Costa. Romelu Lukaku returned to the club with a lot of promise but has failed to make an impact.

The Blues are now ready to test Leipzig’s resolve to hold on to Nkunku after the French superstar enjoyed an impressive campaign.

Authors
Martin Moses photo
Martin Moses
Martin Moses is a sports journalist with over five years of experience in media. He graduated from Multimedia University of Kenya (Bachelor of Journalism, 2017-2021)
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