CHAMPIONS: Diego Costa (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge.

China’s Tianjin denies Chelsea star transfer report

Editorial

5. mai 2017

Football

China Super League club Tianjin Quanjin have denied reports they signed Chelsea striker Diego Costa for a record-breaking 90 million euros ($99 million).

Artikkelen fortsetter under annonsen

In a statement posted to its Weibo social media account late Thursday, the team said «so far we haven’t communicated with Diego Costa about the transfer matter».

The comment followed reports by Spanish newspaper Cadena Ser that the Brazil-born Spanish forward had arranged a 30 million euro annual salary as part of the deal.

Coached by Italy’s World Cup champion Fabio Cannavaro, Tianjin has tried to fill its roster with foreign talent in preparation for its move to the Tier One Super League following its triumph in the second-tier China League One.

Armed with a considerable war chest, Tianjin tried to land Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney, and has been tied to a 60-million-euro bid for Monaco’s Colombian striker Radamel Falcao and a 50-million-euro approach for France’s Anthony Modeste, who plays for German side FC Cologne.

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