Chelsea can turn a proper sale of Diego Costa based on Marseille interest
By George Perry
Marseille waded into the Diego Costa transfer situation yesterday, giving Chelsea their first bit of leverage. Atletico Madrid may not be controlling the price much longer.
Chelsea’s greatest difficulty in the Diego Costa situation – other than Costa himself, of course – has been how lopsided the whole affair is. Chelsea needs to sell and only one club wants to buy. Unfortunately that club cannot actually buy anyone until January, but at least Costa wants to go there. The Blues know what they would like to receive for the investment and headaches, but they have no leverage, no competing offers and no third-party valuation to demand much of anything.
Marseille threw Chelsea a lifeline on Monday, publicly expressing interest for the first time. Atletico Madrid are no longer the only ones setting a price for Costa.
Marseille’s president Jacques-Henri Eyraud acknowledged the trickiness of the whole situation but, crucially, admitted that his club needs a striker. If they are as desperate to buy as Chelsea are to sell, this can go very well very soon.
"I like his character, his grit and his sense of combat. He would fit in very well at OM. However, he has a complicated contractual situation… I assure nothing [to the fans] for the end of the market. It is a sensitive subject. But one thing is certain, we are actively searching for a striker. – The Telegraph"
Marseille finished only two points out of a Europa League spot last season. Despite staying close to fourth-place Lyon on points, they trailed on goal differential by 13. With last season’s top scorer Bafetimbi Gomis now at Galatasaray, Eyraud was not overstating their need for a striker. Behind Gomis’ 20 goals was Florian Thauvin with 15, and then a drop to Clinton N’Jie and Dimitri Payet with four each.
Payet was a mid-season transfer, which explains his low output for the Ligue 1 side. However, Payet’s presence at Marseille raises questions about this Costa rumour.
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Marseille bought Dimitri Payet from West Ham after a protracted and ugly spat between Payet and the Irons. Player power, stand-offs, accusations of bad faith, battle lines… wait, are we still talking about Payet or did we go back to Diego Costa?
Marseille need goals and they appear serious about qualifying for Europe next season. However, adding Costa would mean bringing another player with an immediate history of discord and discontent.
Payet at least wanted a Ligue 1 club. Costa would still be pining for Atletico Madrid. That is a stiff price to pay, even if he rack up 20-25 goals in France. And if a situation flared up between he and Payet, given their individual levels of combustibility, the fallout could land Marseille mid-table.
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Eyraud may see Costa as a short-term solution to boost their European ambitions. That could be for the full season or just until January before selling Costa to Atletico. Hopefully Eyraud has given as much thought to Costa’s departure as he has to his arrival. As Chelsea know, it’s the break-up that hurts.