Jose Mourinho has already proclaimed that the Blues’ business in the January transfer window is over with Michael Essien, Kevin De Bruyne and Juan Mata leaving the club for Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah.

However, they are still short of some quality attacking strikers with the trio of Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba failing to impress so far. Although Eto’o displayed a virtuoso striker’s performance with his hat-trick for Chelsea in the 3-1 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge, the Cameroon international is most likely to leave Stamford Bridge next summer for Real Mallorca.

With Ba also expected to depart in the summer, it will leave Mourinho woefully short of talented forwards at his disposal. A host of strikers have been linked with a move to the Bridge and Costa’s name has been added to that, according to Metro.

The report suggests that Chelsea have reached a verbal agreement with Atletico that will see Brazilian-born Costa depart the Vicente Calderon Stadium. The Blues are ready to meet Costa’s release clause which stands at £32 million currently.

The report also states that Thibaut Courtois, currently in his third season with Atletico on loan from Chelsea, will make his move to the Spanish club permanent at the end of the season. The Belgian is held in high esteem at Atletico and the top chiefs would do anything to keep the 21-year-old in Spain, including selling Costa who has arguably been their Player of the Season so far.