Why ex-Chelsea striker Diego Costa could make shock return to English football

James Shearman

• Updated: 11 May 2022 11:07 CDT
• 3 min read

Former Barcelona forward Maxi Lopez is interested in signing Diego Costa for Birmingham City.

Birmingham's current owners are ready to hand over the running of the club to a group of new directors, led by Blues fan Paul Richardson.

Lopez is a member of the group, who are looking to secure a two-year management deal with the option to buy the club if things go to plan.

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The club is currently ran by Birmingham Sports Holdings Limited, of which Hong Kong-based Paul Suen is the majority shareholder.

Though, he is looking for investment with a view to selling the club in the foreseeable future.

Lopez' group is one of the potential sources of investment, with an eye of top talent such as Diego Costa part of the plan to propel Birmingham out of the bottom half of the Championship.

Diego Costa to return?

Lopez wants to inject new life into Birmingham's playing squad, with a mix of experienced and youthful individuals.

The Blues ended a disappointing Championship campaign in 20th position, with 47 points from 46 games. Hence, the former League Cup winners are in desperate need of a rebuild.

And, one of the players that Lopez has in mind is Premier League-winning striker Diego Costa, according to The Mirror.

The Spaniard scored 52 goals in 89 appearances for Chelsea, providing much of the attacking output (alongside Eden Hazard) in the club's 2014-15 title win.

He then left for Atletico Madrid, after a falling out with then-manager Antonio Conte, before scoring four times in nine starts for Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro.

However, the 33-year-old is now a free agent, having left Mineiro, with a return to English football on the cards.

Lopez is thought to want to add a number of South American players as well as the Brazilian-born forward to the Blues squad.