Diego Costa ready to wait six months for Atletico return

With Atletico's transfer ban preventing them from buying anyone until January 2018, Diego Costa is prepared to wait for the winter transfer window to make his return to the club.

Diego Costa endured a rollercoaster of a season with Chelsea. While the forward managed to score 22 goals in 42 games, his best return for the club which saw them clinch the Premier League title, he also had an extremely explosive relationship with manager Antonio Conte.

Following a much-publicised training ground bust-up between the pair, Costa then flirted with a move to Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian. This saw the Spaniard ousted from the first team squad and he missed the game against Leicester before returning.

In the aftermath of Chelsea's FA Cup final loss to Arsenal, Costa told reporters that he would only return to Atletico Madrid if he left Chelsea. The forward then went on record and claimed Conte sent him a text message saying he does not want Costa at the club next season, which sparked exit rumours immediately.

Now, Spanish news outlet Don Balon has reported that the 28-year-old will be willing to wait for six months to return to Atletico Madrid. The winter transfer window will be the earliest possible time Atletico will be able to buy players following their transfer ban.

The report stated that Costa already knows he has no future at Chelsea but is willing to risk playing close to no football for six months before moving back to La Liga. While this might ideal for Costa, who will continue to earn his wages regardless of his playing time, Chelsea will not want a deal like this.

They will likely look to strike a deal similar to Barcelona's with Atletico for Arda Turan. Barcelona also had a transfer ban but signed the player in advanced and allowed him to train with Atletico.