Report: Diego Simeone wants Leeds player at Atletico Madrid to replace Diego Costa

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Italian website TuttoNapoli claim Atletico Madrid are scouring the market to bring in a replacement for Diego Costa after the veteran was released by the Spanish club – and Leeds United ace Rodrigo Moreno has been added to their shortlist.

Costa, 32, saw his contract ripped up after just seven games this season for Atletico. His £270,000-a-week (Sun) deal was due to expire at the end of the season, but Atletico have decided to speed up the process by getting rid instantly.

Simeone needs a replacement and his shortlist has been reported by TuttoNapoli. Napoli’s Polish striker and Mateusz Klich’s national teammate Arkadiusz Milik is the first name on the shortlist and certainly the favourite to replace Costa.

However, Spain international Rodrigo joins a list that also includes Espanyol’s Raul De Tomas and Real Betis star Loren Moron. Rodrigo, 29, only just joined Leeds and netted his third goal for the Whites on Tuesday night in a 5-0 demolition of West Brom.

TBR’s view – Atletico would be hugely tempting for Rodrigo

You can hardly blame him. The Leeds attacker has played for Valencia for much of his career, but they were never good enough to challenge the likes of Real Madrid or Barcelona. But Simeone and Atletico are more than capable of doing so.

Rodrigo, at Atletico, might be the perfect combination to see the Spain international actually have a chance of winning silverware in his own country. But would he leave Leeds after only just joining the club? Time will tell.

Certainly, Atletico have other options they are pursuing – especially given Rodrigo cost Leeds an enormous £27million in the summer, a club-record fee. If he was to go, Leeds would likely to charge a figure above £30million.