Diego Costa’s peace talks

LONDON. — Diego Costa is ready to begin peace talks with Chelsea in a bid to save his World Cup hopes.

The Chelsea striker suffered a major blow last Friday when the move to Atletico Madrid he has been pushing for collapsed at the last moment, with the two clubs unable to agree a fee.

Costa has also not been included in Chelsea’s squad for the Champions League group stages.

The striker has been in a stand-off with Chelsea throughout the summer, having claimed Antonio Conte told him he is not part of his plans at Stamford Bridge and refusing to return from his native Brazil to resume training at the club.

Costa failed to secure a move away from Chelsea before last week’s transfer deadline passed, but the forward is not in the Blues’ 25-player selection allowance.

The 32-year-old has openly expressed his desire to return to former club Atletico Madrid, but the Spanish club only offered half of the £50m Chelsea asked for to allow him to leave.

Atletico are banned from registering new players before January and were reluctant to pay Costa’s £150 000 a week wages before he can play for them.

New £70m striker Alvaro Morata is included in Chelsea’s Champions League squad, alongside summer signings Danny Drinkwater, Davide Zappacosta, Antonio Rudiger, Willy Caballero and Tiemoue Bakayoko.

Costa, who is still back home in Brazil having refused to return to Chelsea since the end of last season, is now in limbo, with Atletico wanting him to settle his dispute with Chelsea to allow a deal to happen in January.

Full Chelsea Champions League squad

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Willy Caballero, Eduardo

Defenders: Davide Zappacosta, Victor Moses, Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Jake Clarke-Salter, Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Gary Cahill, Marcos Alonso, Kenedy.

Midfielders: N’Golo Kante, Kyle Scott, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Cesc Fabregas, Danny Drinkwater, Charly Musonda Jnr, Pedro, Willian, Eden Hazard. Forwards: Michy Batshuayi, Alvaro Morata