No team in England has done a better job in the last five years that Chelsea in getting top dollar for their unwanted players and the Premier League Champions Elect are set to land another massive windfall as Diego Costa is reportedly close to agreeing to a move to China that will see him become the best-paid player in world football.
Tianjin Quanjian are reported to have an agreement in principle to complete a stunning £75 million deal for the Chelsea forward this summer having failed to sign the Spanish international in January.
If, as expected, the switch is ratified, Costa will become the highest-paid player on the planet, earning an eye-watering £620,000 per week after tax.
Photographs emerged last week of Costa meeting with super-agent Jorge Mendes, at which Tianjin officials were understood to be present.
Suggestions that Costa has already signed a deal are said to be premature, but provided there are no last-minute hitches the Spain striker seems certain to sign.
Costa’s future at Stamford Bridge has been under a shadow ever since January, when the club turned down Tianjin’s approach.
The former Atletico Madrid striker also had a bust-up with manager Antonio Conte amid concerns over his fitness.
Conte will use the money recouped from Costa’s sale by bolstering his squad ahead of next season.
Everton’s Romelu Lukaku is wanted by Chelsea, while they are also chasing Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk, and they are likely to cost a combined total of more than £100m.
