Atletico Madrid want Manchester City's Alvaro Negredo to replace Chelsea-bound Diego Costa

ATLETICO MADRID want Manchester City’s Alvaro Negredo to replace Diego Costa.

BEASTIE BYE? Negredo is wanted by Madrid

The Spanish champions sold Costa to Chelsea for £32million and see Negredo as the ideal player to take over his target man role.

It is only a year since Negredo, 28, arrived at The Etihad for £20m from Seville.

He quickly established himself as a fans’ favourite but lost his place in the second half of the season when his form dipped.

That cost him his chance of making Spain’s squad for the World Cup.

City could be tempted to do business over Negredo if they are offered their money back or make a slight profit.

And Atletico may be prepared to offer around £22m.

Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has been told he has wasted his money on World Cup flop Costa.

Former Manchester United striker Dion Dublin reckons Chelsea’s Premier League title rivals will not exactly be quaking in their boots at the prospect of dealing with Costa, 25, next season.

Dublin said: “I’ve not seen anything in Costa that makes me think, ‘You are unbelievable’.

“I know he’s been injured but I haven’t seen a spark, that sharpness or any sort of finishing quality. Even if you’re injured you hit the target.”