The La Liga champions are set to lose their most precious asset, star striker Diego Costa, to Chelsea this summer. A deal between the two clubs is imminent and Atletico have started looking for other strikers to replace the prolific frontman.

Their search has led them to target City’s Negredo, who enjoyed a remarkable start to the season for City before fizzling out in the end. He scored 23 goals in his debut season for the Citizens and helped them lift the Premier League trophy and Capital One cup. However, he failed to score in the last four months which meant he was left out of Spain’s World Cup squad.

The 28-year-old now wants to quit England for a return to Spain with Madrid favourites for his signature, according to the Mirror. The report suggests that Negredo and his family have failed to settle in Manchester and homesickness was the reason his form took a nosedive in the final months of last season.

Atletico are ready to match the £20 million City paid to Sevilla for his services last season with Negredo hoping that City accept Atletico’s offer and let him move back to Spain.