Abramovich allows Matic to leave for £50m
United close in on deal for Chelsea midfielder Conte admits Costa sale was decided in January
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has given Nemanja Matic permission to pursue a £50million transfer to Manchester United. The Old Trafford club are closing in on a deal after their initial £35 million bid was turned down.
Another player moving closer to leaving the club is Diego Costa after manager Antonio Conte revealed yesterday that he had decided to sell the Spain forward in January. It has emerged Costa will not even be allowed to train with Chelsea’s first team if he returns to their Cobham base, and that he asked to leave on three separate occasions last season, infuriating his manager.
Atletico Madrid are keen to resign Costa and failed with an initial offer of £26million. However, it is believed that progress has been made over the fee. The hurdle will be who pays the player’s £150,000a-week wages until Atletico’s transfer ban runs out in January.
Conte has insisted he decided to cut his losses on the 28-year-old midway through last season, after Costa pushed for a move to the Chinese Super League.
He said: “I don’t like to talk about players who are not here but the only thing I can tell you [is that] in January, the Costa situation was very clear, for the club, for him and his agent. The situation is closed.”
Costa has been on holiday in Brazil during Chelsea’s pre-season tour of the Far East and gave another clear hint over his plans this week when he posted a video of himself in an Atletico jersey.
Matic could follow Costa out of Stamford Bridge and is keen to join his former manager, Jose Mourinho, at United. He has also not joined Chelsea’s tour, and Juventus are poised to open talks over a potential deal next week. However, United are determined make another bid and secure his signing.
Chelsea are happy to do business with United if they agree on a price and Abramovich has given Matic his blessing to move, as reward for the 28-year-old’s part in helping the club lift the title twice in the last three seasons.
Conte has already replaced Costa by signing Alvaro Morata for £58million. The former Real Madrid forward will touch down in Singapore early next week and is expected to play in the International Champions Cup game against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.
“This is a good signing for us,” said Conte. “Morata is a young player but has a lot of experience and played with Real Madrid and Juventus. Real Madrid has a lot of experience for the league and the Champions League.
“He is young and can improve a lot. He is our first choice. He’s a good striker, a player with the right prospects for Chelsea.”
Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma is joining Stoke on loan for the season, after signing a new contract.