Liverpool make 22m bid for Atletico striker Costa

Liverpool have tabled a £21.8million bid for Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa as manager Brendan Rodgers seeks to bolster his attacking options.

The bid is believed to have met the release clause in the 24-year-old’s contract and the Reds are aiming to make the Brazil international their highest profile addition of the summer. Atletico are now considering the next move.

Liverpool recently lost out to Borussia Dortmund for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan to Borussia Dortmund and speculation has continued to swirl around the future of striker Luis Suarez, so the addition of Costa would be a boost for the club.

Costa is a controversial figure in Spain with a chequered disciplinary record but enjoyed his most productive campaign at Atlético last season, scoring 10 goals in 31 league appearances and a total of 20 goals in 44 games.