Chelsea Transfer News: Bayern Munich Star And Atletico Madrid Trio Linked In Latest Rumors

Chelsea are thought to be closing in on deals to take three of Atletico Madrid’s Champions League final team to Stamford Bridge this summer. Diego Costa, Filipe Luis and Tiago are all reported to be on the Blues’ wanted list.

Striker Costa is still widely expected to join Jose Mourinho’s squad for a fee of €40 million (£32.6m). Atletico’s top scorer with 36 goals in all competitions last season is currently recovering from a hamstring injury and may not be confirmed as a Chelsea player until after going to the World Cup with Spain, if he is passed fit. Costa will help fill the void up front that hampered Chelsea last season, but, boosted by the money from the expected sale of David Luiz, it is far from the only business that they will do this summer.

And Chelsea could well continue to strip apart an Atletico team that stunningly claimed the Spanish league title as well as coming within a couple of minutes of winning the Champions League. Brazilian left-back Luis has long been viewed as a target and, according to The Guardian, talks have resumed with Atletico over a potential transfer for the 28-year-old.

Signing a left-back is also a priority this summer. Ashley Cole is set to leave when his contract expires next month and it remains to be seen whether Mourinho intends to continue to play the right-footed Cesar Azpilicueta at left-back, a role he performed admirably last season. Chelsea have also been linked to Southampton’s Luke Shaw and Sevilla’s Alberto Moreno, but they are now thought likely to join Manchester United and Liverpool, respectively. Luis, who is extremely reliable defensively, would be a good fit in Mourinho’s philosophy. He has, though, claimed that he is keen to remain at the Vicente Calderon.

“I have a contract for three more years,” Luis told O Globo, reports Sky Sports. “My thought is to continue. We have to lift our heads high after the Champions League final defeat and think about the next goal.”

In any case, it is likely that Atletico will strongly resist selling the Brazilian, especially with Costa also set to be on his way. They will be able to do little, though, to prevent the departure of Tiago. The midfielder is out of contract this summer and could make an unexpected return to Stamford Bridge, where he played and won the Premier League title under Mourinho in the 2004-05 season. The 33-year-old has continued to show himself to be a solid performer with Atletico and could provide a valuable extra option in an area of the squad where Chelsea have been light of late. The midfield could be weakened further by Frank Lampard’s departure when his contract expires next month.

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea are already looking further ahead to strengthen the center of their midfield. The tabloid claims that Chelsea are keenly monitoring the situation of Toni Kroos at Bayern Munich. While he has confirmed that he won’t be joining Manchester United this summer, the Germany international is set to enter the final year of his contract with the German champions. Kroos has yet to have his salary requirements met by Bayern, which surely wouldn’t be an issue for Chelsea.