Atletico Madrid 'ready to trigger Diego Costa's £28m release clause'

Atletico Madrid are allegedly ready to trigger Diego Costa's £28m release clause to bring the Chelsea striker back to the club.

The Spain international could be on course to return to the Vicente Calderon when the transfer window reopens, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Costa has struggled to replicate the goalscoring form of his debut season at Chelsea this term, netting just four times so far.

The 27-year-old's relationship with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is also rumoured to be strained after the forward reacted angrily to being substituted during the 0-0 draw at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

This is not the first time that Costa has been linked with a return to Atletico, the club at which he spent four years before signing for the Blues in 2014.