Chelsea star Diego Costa, who has scored four goals in the three games that he has played so far in the Premier League, could have joined Liverpool instead, as reported by the Daily Star.
Costa has come to symbolise Chelsea’s successful summer business after starting his Premier League career off on great form, but fans of Liverpool will be left ruing what might have been.
Last summer saw Brendan Rodgers identify Costa as a key target, and the Merseyside club were very keen on signing him.
Despite still having Luis Suarez at their disposal, the Reds put a £21 million bid together for the Spain international, but Costa was ultimately not interested in then departing Atletico Madrid. This was eventually justified as the brutish striker led the Madrid club to the La Liga crown ahead of the duopoly of Barcelona and Real Madrid, scoring 35 goals in the process.
Costa said: “I was close to leaving, Liverpool are a great team.
“But after fighting so hard and overcoming difficulties to get my place at Atletico, how could I leave?
“I thought it was very important to keep growing at the Colchoneros, and play here for many years.”
Mourinho ultimately triggered his release clause with a £32 million bid.
