Atletico Madrid president refuses to rule out 'possible' return of Chelsea star Diego Costa

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has refused to rule out the return of Diego Costa from Chelsea, suggesting that "everything is possible in life and football." The club chief added that "he has no idea" on whether the Spaniard will re-join Los Colchoneros, but admitted that signing a striker is a top priority for manager Diego Simeone.

Costa has been heavily linked with a move back to the Vicente Calderon ever since he admitted he would be happy to follow in the footsteps of Filipe Luis, who returned to Atletico after just a season with Chelsea.

In February Cerezo said that the club "make every effort" to lure Costa back to the Calderon after selling Jackson Martinez to Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande for €42m (£35m, $46.6m).

Yet only two months later he appeared to concede defeat in the battle, saying that the Spaniard's return was "almost impossible" – amid reports claiming that new Chelsea boss Antonio Conte had convinced Costa to stay at Stamford Bridge.

Speculations have since increased in recent weeks as Atletico Madrid are still in the hunt for a striker. The club have been linked with names like Carlos Bacca, Mauro Icardi, Kevin Gameiro, Gonzalo Higuain and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but it is no secret in Spain that Costa is Simeone's dream target.

Marca recently reported that Los Colchoneros had launched a club-record formal bid worth between €50m and €60m for the Spaniard.

Cerezo remains coy on the situation, but what in April was "impossible" for him now looks "possible".

"It's possible, everything is possible in life and football," the president was quoted by AS saying when asked whether the striker will return to Atletico.

Icardi had also been linked with the Champions League runners-up in recent days, but it looks that the Argentine will instead sign a contract renewal at Inter. Questioned whether this makes Costa's return even closer, Cerezo replied: "I have no idea. The team are trying to bring in good players to cover the positions we need to cover, and that's what we're doing."

"There's plenty of summer left, you'll just have to wait a bit, we're working on it", he added.