Hunter: Prem Trio ‘Prepared’ To Meet Costa Buy-Out Fee But Deal Will Cost £40m+

With the January transfer window now open for business clubs will be working hard to try and strengthen their squad for the second half of the season, so we’ll keep you up-to-date with all the latest transfer news and rumours. Today, Graham Hunter has his say on the future of Diego Costa.

Diego Costa has been one of the most talked about players during the January transfer window so far with several clubs understood to be clamoring for his signature.

The 25-year-old has enjoyed a blistering start to the season, scoring 19 goals in just 17 games to help Atletico Madrid keep pace with Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table as well as qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

His form has attracted interest from a whole host of European clubs and Spanish-based journalist Graham Hunter has told talkSPORT that Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are all prepared to meet his buy-out fee in order to try and lure him to the Premier League.

However, Hunter has bad news for any club that thinks they can pick Costa up at a bargain price as he’s warned that due to Atletico insisting any buyer covers the subsequent TAX, the deal is actually likely to cost the purchaser in excess of £40m. He told talkSPORT:

“He’s [Costa] on everyone’s wanted list. He’s playing better than Falcao. Arsenal, Man United and Liverpool all want this guy and are prepared to pay a relatively small buy-out clause of around €40m.”

“The problems come when you add the VAT on top of that, which is at least another 20%, so that deal will not happen for under £40m.”

Atletico Madrid sporting director Jose Luis Perez Caminero was quoted earlier this week as confirming that Costa’s release fee stood at €38m (£32m), but insisted that the player has no intention of leaving the Vicente Calderon:

“The player has a clause of 38 millions euros and the big clubs in England know this,”

“Diego Costa has matured and is smart when it comes to decision making.

“Right now, Costa does not think of leaving, he is hooked on Atletico. He has re-signed a deal that is important, I am confident he will continue with us.” he is quoted as saying by Sky Sports

Arsenal are desperate for another striker following injuries to Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott, while Manchester United boss David Moyes would no doubt love to bring in a marquee signing this month to ease the pressure on his head following a disappointing start to life at Old Trafford.

However, it doesn’t appear likely that Costa will be heading to the Premier League any time soon, and even if he was open to coming to England, it sounds as if the deal will cost over the £40m mark.

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