Atletico Madrid target Chelsea's Diego Costa

Diego Costa

Atletico Madrid are in talks with Chelsea over a £35million move for Diego Costa — and are determined to take their former striker back to the Spanish capital this summer.

Costa, 27, has also been open about the fact that he would relish a reunion with Diego Simeone at last season's Champions League runners-up.

The Atletico boss has made the signing of a top marksman his priority for this window, after the failure of last July's £25m buy Jackson Martinez saw them using - ironically - Chelsea old boy Fernando Torres up front.

Colombia international Martinez was moved on to China's Guanzhou Evergrande for £31m, just eight months after arriving at Atletico from Portuguese side Porto.

Although Chelsea are set to confirm the £33m capture of Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi on a five-year deal, they also retain a strong interest in Real Madrid’s £40m-rated marksman Alvaro Morata.

It has left Atletico confident the Blues could yet be open to a deal for a player who, since his £32m move from the Vicente Calderon stadium two years ago, has netted 36 times in 78 club appearances.