Chelsea are holding out for £44m before they'll sell Diego Costa.

The Spain striker is set to exit Stamford Bridge this summer after falling out of favour with Antonio Conte.

And a move to former side Atletico Madrid has been heavily touted.

But the Independent says Chelsea won't let him leave on the cheap and want £44m for their top scorer last season.
The Chelsea outcast faces the prospect of being frozen out at Stamford Bridge as Alvaro Morata closes in on a switch to the Premier League champions.
Costa is desperate to return to his former club after being told by text that he was not part of Antonio Conte’s plans.

But Atletico have a transfer ban and although they can agree in principle to buy players, they cannot be registered until January.

And it appears the club are in no rush to bring Costa back to the club anytime soon.

Reported by the Mirror, Atletico president Cerezo said: “Diego Costa is a great player, he is magnificent.

“But at the moment, he is a Chelsea player and you know we cannot sign him.

“I have not talked to him for a long time, for at least a year, since he left I’ve spoken to him very little.”