Chelsea 'agree swap deal' with Atletico for United target Costa... and star keeper Courtois staying in Spain

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois would like to stay in Madrid

Chelsea want to swap him for striker Diego Costa

Courtois will only return to Stamford Bridge if he is No 1 keeper

Chelsea's priority is to sign a striker

Chelsea and Atletico Madrid have agreed a sensational swap deal that could see Diego Costa at Stamford Bridge next season, according to reports in the Spanish media.

Blues keeper Thibaut Courtois, on loan at Atletico, has been hailed by many as the best young custodian in Europe thanks to his performances in the Spanish capital in the past three seasons.

But the 21-year-old would like to stay in Madrid, with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho wanting star striker Costa in return. David Moyes had hoped to line up the forward for a move to Old Trafford.



Soon to be Blue? Diego Costa could be on his way to Stamford Bridge as part of a sensational swap deal

Thumbs up: Any deal will see long-term loanee Thibaut Courtois stay at Atletico permanently

Costa has netted 19 goals in La Liga this season, second only to cross-city rival Cristiano Ronaldo at Real.

Mourinho's top priority in the summer is to sign a striker, with the Portuguese ruling out making a move for a frontman in January.

Chelsea wanted keeper Courtois to sign a new deal despite having never played for the Stamford Bridge side, but the Belgian has said he would prefer to be playing for a club permanently.

Courtois has previously said he will only return to Chelsea to be No 1 keeper ahead of Petr Cech.

'It is not up to me to say I am going to be No 1,' Courtois said. 'But neither do I want to go to a team and not play. I want to play, if not at Chelsea, then at another team.

Building a side: Jose Mourinho sees bagging a striker as maximum priority for his team next season

'I know that Atletico want to make an effort to sign me, but it depends on Chelsea, on what they want and how much they are going to ask,' Courtois said.

'First my agent is going to talk with Chelsea to see when I can speak with someone there, and from there we can take another step.

'Now Atleti are waiting until Chelsea says something. Maybe by the end of March, more or less.'

With Cech still performing for Chelsea, a swap deal would be very attractive for the London side due to the FFP regulations.