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Spurs-linked £270k-a-week striker was previously called ‘brilliant’ by Jose Mourinho

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Diego Costa, a player who Jose Mourinho has worked with before and has praised on numerous occasions.

According to a report in the from Thursday night, Spurs have been offered the chance to sign the Spain striker after being put up for sale by Atletico Madrid.

Costa’s Atleti contract runs out next summer and the British outlet claims the La Liga club have put him up for sale so as to not lose him on a free next summer.

RB Leipzig v Club Atletico de Madrid - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final
(Photo by Julian Finney – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

The report, however, adds that Tottenham have concerns about Costa’s age and fitness, while Benfica have also been linked with the 31-year-old.

Despite these apparent reservations, the link does make sense, given the good working relationship between Mourinho and Costa in the past.

The two worked together during the Portuguese’s second spell in charge of Chelsea, which saw them win the Premier League and League Cup in the 2014-15 season.

In October 2015, after Costa came back from suspension to inspire the Blues to a 2-0 win over Aston Villa, Mourinho waxed lyrical about the forward.

“When we lose him we’re a bit in trouble because the team depends on a striker like him, from a character, from a personality like him,” he was quoted by the as saying.

“So when we don’t have him, we miss him… the way he plays, the way he gives his body to the cause – because his body is always very punished – is brilliant. The team need that.”

In 2017, meanwhile, Costa told : “I wanted to come to Chelsea because of Mourinho. When I considered Chelsea I thought about the fact that Mourinho was here.”

TBR View:

Costa is certainly a player who has divided opinion over the years, but one thing’s for sure, him and Mourinho have a great working relationship and the boss knows how to get the best out of the player.

Spurs are in dire need of strengthening their attacking ranks, given the crisis caused by injuries to Harry Kane and Son Heung-min earlier this year, and Costa definitely seems to tick all the boxes.

He’s experienced at the top level, he enjoys working with Mourinho, he isn’t afraid to ruffle feathers, and he’d probably be content with being a squad rotation player.

That said, with reported current wages of £270,000-a-week (), this would be one of the main things mentioned at the negotiating table – would Costa be willing to take a pay cut to join Spurs?