Richards: Costa ‘would win’ Man City the Premier League
Micah Richards has suggested that Manchester City should sign Diego Costa until the end of the season to resolve their striker issues.
Costa spent three-and-a-half years in England with Chelsea between 2014 and 2018. In that time he won the Premier League twice as well as the League Cup in 2014/15.
The Spaniard scored 59 times from 120 appearances for the Blues. He rejoined Atletico Madrid in January 2018 after falling out with then Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.
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Costa made 81 appearances in his second spell for Madrid. His time at the club came to an end in December 2020 as he and Atletico mutually agreed to terminate his contract. He has been linked with a move to Wolves, but he is still a free agent.
Speaking with BBC Sport, as cited by GOAL, Richards argued that Costa would be a great “Plan B” for Guardiola’s side:
“Manchester City are already on a ridiculously good run of form but if they signed Diego Costa now, he would win them the Premier League – I am sure of it.
“Costa is 32 and I am not suggesting he is a long-term solution for City up front, but the former Chelsea striker is a free agent after ending his Atletico Madrid contract in December, and can sign for anyone for nothing.
“Why not get him in until the end of the season? He would do more than just ruffle a few feathers and be a pain in the backside for opposition defences – he is a proven finisher who would offer Pep Guardiola’s side a proper plan B.
“Yes, you would have to cover Costa’s wages, but the massive difference he could make to City’s season would make that worthwhile.
“I like Jesus a lot, and he is far more than just a grafter, but when I watch him he is not always looking to get on the end of balls into the box like he did against Cheltenham in the FA Cup on Saturday – he is often lurking deeper or on the left, linking play.
“It means City sometimes don’t have a focal point. If they had someone who constantly wanted to run in behind defences then, with their creative players looking for them, I honestly think they would be frightening. They would clean up, no matter how teams tried to stop them.
“Costa could be that striker and not only would he finish the chances that City are making, his presence would increase the opportunities for his team-mates too.”
