‘The Beast’ is back in the Premier League, and the ‘Wolves pack’ has a new leader up top. After finally getting the clearance from FA, Diego Costa has been pictured in Wolverhampton’s training kit and looks ready to strike again in the Premier League finally. Wolverhampton Wanderers have signed the prolific striker on a one-year deal after resolving his work permit issue from FA.
Here’s Diego Costa in Wolves shirt as contract until June 2023 has been signed, as revealed yesterday — he will be unveiled as new signing soon. 🟠🔛 #WWFC
📸 @generalLv0 pic.twitter.com/NBsowrSqS7
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 9, 2022
Bruno Lage and Wolves were clear to bring a striker this window, as they wanted an aid up top to help Raul Jimenez, who has not looked lethal since his return from injury. Lage and the team were very happy as they landed their first choice, Kalajdzic from Stuttgart. But their happiness was short-lived as the Austrian striker suffered ACL in the season’s opening and will be out indefinitely. This has left Wolves’ attack toothless, with Raul still struggling with injuries. For their cure, they have landed their eyes on a Premier League veteran and a player who once ruled the scoring charts in the league, Diego Costa.
Costa bid adieu to the Premier League in the January of 2018, when he left Chelsea in a not-so-pleasing fashion. After losing out his place in Antonio Conte’s squad, Diego Costa had to suffer half a season and was only allowed to make a January move to his former club, Atletico Madrid. After 3 good years, which were full of goals and trophies, Atletico and Costa, upon mutual consent, decided to terminate the player’s contract, allowing him to join the Brazilian side, Atletico Mineiro. His spell in Brazil, however, was not the most fruitful one and thus, in January 2022, Costa again asked his contract to be terminated and became a free agent.
Wolves now have pounced upon the opportunity and have landed the Brazil-born star, as they hope to cure their problems up top. In his 120 games for Chelsea, Costa bagged 59 goals, of which 52 were in the Premier League. In his first season at Chelsea, he helped the team win the Premier League title crossing the 20-goals mark in the season. He achieved the same feat in 2016-17, as Chelsea lifted yet another Premier League trophy, this time under Antonio Conte. However, during the end of the season, Diego Costa did fall out with Conte, and the rift between the two was very evident. This eventually resulted in Costa being dropped by Conte in the next season.
Apart from his goal-scoring records, Costa has made the newspapers’ headlines more than often, and his attitude has been the talk of the town. He was pretty well known for the dirty side of the game, a trait which a few fans of his club enjoyed but was heavily criticised by other fans. He has been suspended several times after his behaviour on the pitch was found questionable. The suspensions did impact his team a few times, but his attitude was the one which helped him bag numbers which he did.
Diego Costa has always been regarded as a lethal striker, but his physicality has always been his best strength. He has the ability to play with his back to the defenders, holding the ball well and making lay-offs for players around him. Eden Hazard for Chelsea and Griezmann at Atletico did benefit a lot with Costa up top. He had the bull’s aggression to go one on one against defenders and win the physical battles and go for the goals.
Wolves last season just managed to bag 38 goals, which was just better than the three relegated teams. They lacked the clinical finishing with no forward player taking charge. In the first 6 games this season have just scored thrice and do not look lethal. They have some excellent creativity in form of Pedro and Podence on the wings and Neves and Nunes in the midfield, but this all goes in vain with no striker to finish. Costa can very well be the anchor man and help the team to finish the chances they create. His stats in the box are comparable with the elites of the game, but the only concern for Wolves will be Costa’s age. The striker will turn 34 next month and has not played competitive football in Europe for long. In fact, he last played competitive football in the month of January before the termination of his contract. The weekend’s break has come up as a good opportunity for the Wolves’ new signing, as he can get time to acclimatise himself in England again and be ready to roar from the get-go.
Diego Costa’s return marks yet another Chelsea star’s return to the Premier League after Fulham announced the signing of Willian in this transfer window. It will be interesting to note how the two stars of the past time can create an impact on their return to England.
