Everton owner Farhad Moshiri has ordered the club to look into the feasibility of signing Diego Costa as he attempts to make a 'statement signing' in this window.

Despite Everton having overspent their budget over the last three years, leaving director of football Marcel Brands the task of reducing a bloated squad, Moshiri has indicated he is willing to pay for a marquee signing up front.

Costa, 30, nearly joined Everton in 2017 and his strained relationship with Atletico Madrid means a summer departure from the Spanish capital is likely.

Farhad Moshiri wants Everton to look into signing Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid

The fiery striker has a strained relationship with Atletico Madrid and so could leave the club

The fiery striker was given an eight-game ban last season for insulting a referee in a game against Barcelona.

Costa was both controversial and successful during a three-year spell at Chelsea.

He won two Premier League titles under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte but his time at Stamford Bridge ended in acrimony when he fled to Brazil and accused the club of treating him like a 'criminal'.

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri (right) wants to make a 'statement signing' by luring Costa

It would be a risk for Everton to try and bring him back to the Premier League but his tenacity as an old-fashioned No 9 would play well with the Goodison faithful.

Moshiri is keen to drive interest in the club ahead of their move to a new stadium at Bramley Dock. They have already signed Andre Gomes in a £22million deal from Barcelona.

Everton are in the process of trying to find new homes for a number of players including Yanick Bolasie, Mo Besic, Kevin Mirallas, Cenk Tosun and Oumar Niasse.