Betting: Diego Costa odds on to leave Chelsea despite Atletico Madrid's transfer ban

Manchester United's late move for Romelu Lukaku may have denied Chelsea of their first choice striker, but the odds continue to shorten on Diego Costa departing Stamford Bridge this summer.

Reportedly informed that he was not part of Antonio Conte's first team plans via text message last month, the 28-year-old is now 7/2 (4.50) to remain at the Premier League champions once the transfer window shuts.

Atletico Madrid are red-hot favourites to offer the Spain international a route out of London, priced at 1/3 (1.33) to complete any move before 1st September and the striker has insisted they are his preferred destination.

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However, Atleti are currently subject to a transfer ban, so Costa would have to sit out of first team action until January when he could be officially registered. That scenario would at least allow the forward some competitive first team football ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Adra Turan experienced a similar situation when moving from Los Rojiblancos to Barcelona when the Catalan club were banned from making signings last summer.

Having missed out on Alexandre Lacazette, who looked set to swap Lyon for Madrid until CAS upheld the ban; there are suggestions that Simeone could well now be making moves to strengthen his side with January in mind rather than waiting until closer to the time.

Beskitas are 9/2 (5.50) to sign the 28-year-old, who netted 20 Premier League goals last term.

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China was mooted as a possible destination for Costa in January, and any rift between him and Conte could well have originated from any potential moves to try and manufacture a transfer to the Far East.

It's 10/1 (11.0) that any Chinese Club are his destination by September, but a crackdown by the authorities in an attempt to stem the influx of big-money acquisitions from European clubs makes that look increasingly unlikely, even if there was serious interest a few months ago.

AC Milan are listed as 20/1 (21.0) outsiders, just ahead of PSG at 25/1 (26.0) but Costa returning to his former club certainly looks the most likely result at this point.

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