Atletico Madrid's transfer ban may have enabled Los Rojiblancos to keep Antoine Griezmann for another season but, for the most part, the UEFA imposed sanction has been welcomed about as much as a fart at a funeral by Diego Simeone and co.
However, as is often the case with these 'bans', there are still ways and means to find a way to conduct business.
In Atleti's case, there is the matter of bringing Diego Costa back to the club, three years after he left them for Chelsea.
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On the face of it, a return to the Spanish capital wouldn't make all that much sense for the Brazilian born Spanish international, given that he would have to sit out five months of the season until the transfer ban is lifted in January.
We have seen the last of Costa in a Chelsea shirt, but where will he be next season? Image: PA
OK, so Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal both voluntarily sat out half a season of their careers to secure moves to Barcelona when the Catalan giants were under their own transfer ban, but it's still not ideal for a striker hoping to lead the line for Spain at next year's World Cup.
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On the other hand, Atleti can sign Costa and, to ensure he's not short of match fitness, loan him out to another club for the first half of the 2017/18 campaign.
According to The Standard, via The Mirror, Atleti will look to enlist the help of billionaire shareholder Wang Jianlin, who could help engineer a move for the Chelsea striker to a club in the Chinese Super League.
Costa himself is apparently not keen on spending time in the Far East, but may bite the bullet if it means he eventually ends up back at Atletico, which is his preferred destination, having won La Liga and a Copa Del Rey during his first spell with Los Rojiblancos.
The Spanish international has been crucial to the Blues' last two Premier League title victories. Image: PA
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The 28-year-old was informed by text message by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte that he was now surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, despite his goals leading the Blues to two Premier League titles in three years.
Costa's relationship with Conte broke down over the course of last season, coming to a head during a training ground bust up with his fitness coach, in January. It was likely at this point that the Italian manager decided he no longer wanted the striker to be part of his team past the end of the 2016/17 season.
Conte will likely look to replace Costa with former Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, with a deal worth upwards of £70 million apparently set to be struck with Everton in the next couple of weeks.
(H/T The Mirror)
Topics: Football, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea FC, Diego Costa