Sunday People

Koeman lifeline for Costa

- By Neil Moxley

EVERTON are interested in signing Chelsea outcast Diego Costa on loan.

Ronald Koeman confirmed this week that he would be open to taking the stroppy Brazilian to Goodison Park.

It is understood that Koeman has been canvassing opinion behind the scenes among his staff as to whether it is worth taking a punt on the striker.

Costa is currently in a stand-off with the current champions and there is little or no chance of boss Antonio Conte accepting him back into the Stamford Bridge fold.

He wants to join Atletico Madrid – a switch that cannot take place until January because of the transfer embargo in place at the Spanish club.

But Koeman wants to take the Spain internatio­nal now and is willing to sanction a temporary arrangemen­t.

The Everton boss is still seeking a spearhead for his attack in the wake of Romelu Lukaku’s £75million defection to Manchester United.

He had high hopes that he could persuade Olivier Giroud to leave Arsenal, but the France striker appears unfazed by the arrival of Alexandre Lacazette and is ready to fight for his place.

Giroud’s colleague Danny Welbeck was another option but any potential move appears to have been met with resistance in north London.

With time slipping away before the window closes, options are running out and Costa provides both Koeman and Chelsea with a readymade solution.

But it remains to be seen whether the troublesom­e, but gifted, old-school centreforw­ard would consider a switch to Merseyside.

 ??  ?? TARGET: Diego Costa
TARGET: Diego Costa

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