Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa is on the brink of returning to the Premier League – if Wolves can convince the Football Association to overturn the initial rejection of his work permit.
Despite the transfer window having shut last week, clubs are able to sign ‘free agents’ – players without a club – at any point. That opens the door for 33-year-old Costa, a controversial figure for his aggressive actions on the field, to make a surprise return to England’s top flight despite having not played professionally since December 12.
The attacker left Brazilian side Atlético Mineiro in January after just five months, but Wolverhampton is desperate for reinforcements after star striker Sasa Kalajdzic suffered an ACL injury on his Wolves debut, having joined for a £15.5m fee from Stuttgart. With Raul Jimenez suffering a groin injury in the warm-up for that 1-0 win over Southampton – their first victory of the season – Wolves are set to offer Costa a one-year deal.
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The Brazil and Spain dual citizen – who represented both sides on the international stage – played for Chelsea 120 times in all competitions, scoring 59 times.
But his work permit was rejected owing to his lack of recent football at both international and club level. Wolves have since appealed to the Football Association, with a final decision set to be handed down inside 48 hours.
Wolves are also looking into signing another veteran via free agency, with Belgian centre-back Jason Denayer also up for grabs after an injury-hit fourth season at Lyon saw contract extension negotiations break down.
The 27-year-old boasts 35 caps on the international stage, and is also being pursued by clubs including Roma. Italian rivals Inter Milan and Torino were both linked to a move earlier in the transfer window, as was Turkish club Besiktas, Rennes in France, and Valencia in Spain.
Wolves failed in a bid to sign West Ham’s Craig Dawson late in the transfer window, while selling Willy Boly to Nottingham Forest. With inexperienced young talents Toti and Mosquera the only alternates to Nathan Collins and Max Kilman, further depth in the form of Denayer could be vital.
Wolves Manager Bruno Lage said before the weekend’s match: “I will continue to say my opinion that I said two days ago, we are very happy with Collins and Max, I am still happy with Toti and Yerson, but I think there’s a gap between the two that are playing and the two that are not playing.”
“I know him very well. You are talking about a centre-back that I know very well, I played against him in the Champions League.
“We are talking about a player who has played in the Champions League and for his national team. Let’s see what can happen.”
Former Tottenham right-back Serge Aurier, once described as a ‘car crash’ by the great Roy Keane, is set to sign for Premier League newcomers Nottingham Forest.
Aurier, who left La Liga side Villareal at the end of last season, reportedly agreed a deal with Forest last week but has been waiting on a work visa.
