Chelsea face having to pay Diego Costa his full wages for another six months as they struggle to offload him.

The Sun says instead of offloading the striker the champions could be shelling out another reported £185,000-a-week until he leaves next year.

That's around another £3.7million the Blues could pay the Spaniard for doing nothing.

Despite his agent Jorge Mendes holding meetings in the Italian capital with AC Milan top brass, Costa is still holding out for a return to Atletico Madrid by any means necessary.

The Italian giants have offered him an escape route out of West London – but only on a long term deal.

The forward is still sunning himself in his native Brazil and is hoping super-agent Mendes can find a way for him to get back to Spain, without having to get there via Italy.

Even the prospect of a mooted loan stint in Italy until Atletico's transfer embargo is lifted in January is not exactly filling the striker with joy.