Chelsea Steps-up Douglas Costa Bid

Chelsea are reportedly ready to pay up to £20million for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Douglas Costa – with the Blues remaining hopeful of negotiating a deal for the 24-year-old this month.
Jose Mourinho’s side are believed to have seen an initial bid of £16million rejected by Shakhtar as the Stamford Bridge outfit continue to look for a cheaper alternative to Juan Cuadrado, who is valued at £27million by Fiorentina.
Despite Chelsea’s proposed new offer of £20million for Costa falling short of the Ukrainian side’s £30million valuation, The Guardian have claimed the club have received enough encouragement to remain optimistic of finalising a deal for the midfielder.
The news comes after Costa confirmed on Thursday that it would be a ‘dream’ to sign for Chelsea, and felt it was the right time to begin a new challenge in his career.
‘It would be a dream to go to Chelsea and is a unique chance for me,’ Costa told Brazilian newspaper Globo Esporte.
‘I have been at Shakhtar for five years and think it’s time [to leave]. I will try to negotiate.’
– Sports