Everton primed to roll the dice on Costa

LIONEL MESSI was sent off as Argentina edged out Chile 2-1 in the Copa America third-place play-off last night.

Messi (pictured) squared up to Chile’s Gary Medel in an off-the-ball incident that saw both players dismissed in an ill-tempered affair. Sergio Aguero and Paulo Dybala put Argentina 2-0 up after 22 minutes. Arturo Vidal netted a second-half penalty for Chile. Brazil face Peru in tonight’s final. EVERTON owner Farhad Moshiri has ordered the club to look into the feasibility of signing Diego Costa as he attempts to make a ‘statement signing’ in this window.

Despite Everton having overspent for three years, leaving director of football Marcel Brands the task of reducing a bloated squad, Moshiri seems willing to pay for a marquee signing up front.

Costa nearly joined the club in 2017, but buying him would be a risk. His strained relationship with Atletico Madrid means a summer departure is likely.

The fiery striker was given an eightgame ban last season for insulting a referee in a game against Barcelona. GOALS from Scott Pittman and Dolly Menga helped Livingston to a 2-1 friendly victory over Tranmere at St Andrews.

Meanwhile, Hamilton Accies beat Albion Rovers 3-1. Mickel Miller, Declan Byrne and Niyah Joseph all got on the scoresheet for Accies. DUNDEE UNITED lost 3-2 in a friendly to Dumbarton yesterday but marquee summer signing Lawrence Shankland grabbed his first goal in tangerine to the delight of visiting supporters at the Rock.

Louis Appere scored United’s other goal.