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Liverpool Dealt With A Double Transfer Blow

The Reds have been shown the door by the La Liga side Atletico Madrid. Brendan Rodgers had thought that the bid of £21m for the striker would trigger the release clause, but unfortunately it didn’t and Liverpool’s bid for Diego Costa has been rejected by the Spanish club’s officials.

The 24-year old Brazilian international joined the Madrid club last season from Rayo Vallecano. He had a decent season for them, scoring 20 goals in 44 appearances. He was the second highest scorer for them behind Radamel Falcao, who secured 28 goals. Falcao has been released to AS Monaco this season at a whopping transfer fee. Though Falcao’s departure has been negated by the inclusion of David Villa, but Atletico’s sporting director Jose Luis Caminero is reluctant to trade off Costa.

Speaking to AS, Caminero said: “Diego Costa is a very important player for Atletico, we value him very highly and we are convinced that this year he is going to score a lot of goals with Atletico. He is an idol for the fans.”

Diego Costa is also seemed to be happy at his present club. Costa said: “As I’ve been in Argentina and Uruguay I’ve not heard anything about this.

“I’m happy here, if the club want me to be here, I’m going to be here. I think that the coach (Diego Simeone) counts on all of us, not just me. He knows how important it is to maintain the squad; the fans know it as well.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjBs7M5rduw

Whereas the Reds’ acquisition bid has been rejected, now Rodgers is on a verge of losing another player from his current squad. According to speculations, Newcastle United have made a £5m bid for midfielder Stewart Downing. The former Aston Villa player, who was transferred in 2011 to the Merseyside club on a £18m transfer fee, has remained vulnerable to being offloaded for an acceptable bid.

In the 2013 January transfer window, West Ham approached for the player on a £8m deal. But the deal was called off mainly due to Downing’s refusal to join the London club. Now, in the upcoming season, the 29-year old Brit is pretty unlikely to feature regularly at Anfield, hence increasing the chances of the deal.