Atletico Madrid are actively working on a deal to offer Diego Costa an escape from Chelsea.

The Spanish club are prevented from registering any new players until January after a Fifa transfer ban was upheld by the Court of Arbitration in Sport at the beginning of this month.

However talks are on-going at the club as to how best they can still try and bring back Costa who wants to return to Spain and has been told by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte that he is not in his plans for next season.

Atletico could attempt to acquire Costa and not play him until the new year – as Barcelona did when they signed Arda Turan from Atletico when under a similar sanction in July 2015 – but the striker has indicated he does not want to do this with the World Cup next summer.

Instead it is possible that a deal could be struck whereby Costa leaves Chelsea on loan until January and then switches back to Atletico who want him to return and, aware of his desire to go, will attempt to negotiate. No fee has yet been discussed.