Barcelona weighing up short-term signing of former Atletico Madrid striker

Former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa has been offered to Barcelona, with a report from SPORT claiming that the Catalans are, in fact, considering him as an option until the end of the season.

The 33-year-old frontman recently terminated his contract with Atletico Mineiro after enjoying a successful five-month stint with the team from Brazil, winning the Brasileiro (top flight) and the Copa do Brasil. 

The forward has since been regularly linked with a move back to Europe, with Serie A strugglers Salernitana in line, but the negotiations broke as the team was concerned about his physical condition as well as his motivations for joining them given that they are fighting to avoid relegation this season.

Apart from Salernitana, Valencia were credited with an interest as well, but nothing substantial has materialized so far. As for Barcelona, with Alvaro Morata already ruled out and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a subject of interest for Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, Costa has now emerged as a possible solution.

But then again, despite Barcelona’s interest, everything at the end comes down to Ousmane Dembele. The 24-year-old French winger, who has been told to leave the team, is key to every potential arrival this month as the team is looking to free up the wage bill. 

As things stand, the player himself has made peace with the fact that he needs to depart in order to get minutes under his belt, and while interest from Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint Germain persists, Barcelona have received no official bid from any suitors.

If the Frenchman somehow manages to find a new club, Barcelona will be able to reinforce their attack in time, meaning that the probability of Diego Costa, who has scored 63 goals in La Liga, donning a Barcelona shirt would be greater than ever.