Liverpool have made a £21m offer for Atletico Madrid's Brazilian striker Diego Costa.The offer is understood to have triggered the24-year-old's release clause and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers ishopeful of completing the deal swiftly.Costa who joined Atletico from Valladolid in 2010, scored 10 goals in the Primera Liga last season.
The striker made his international debut in March this year.
Liverpool have declined to comment on the bid, butsources at Anfield insist the move has no bearing on Luis Suarez'sfuture, which has not changed sinceArsenal made a £40,000,001 bid.The Uruguayan has not submitted a formal transferrequest nor has he contacted the Premier League to dispute Liverpool'sinterpretation of a clause in his contract that the player disputes.
Suarez claims he should be able to talk to Arsenal about a move after their bid, although the Reds disagree.
The move for Costa is something of a surprise, butAtletico head coach Diego Simeone has hinted the striker could beallowed to move on following the arrival ofDavid Villa from Barcelona.
Earlier this week, Rodgers said he would only bring innew signings if they he believed they would improve the squad. "Theyhave to be of the right quality, that's the bottom line," he said
"We've got money to spend on getting that quality in,but if it's not available I won't waste it for the sake of bringing aplayer in."
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