Reports: Chelsea lining up £20 million bid for Shakhtar Donetsk's Douglas Costa

Douglas Costa of Shaktar Donetsk is attracting interest from Chelsea

Reports suggest that Chelsea have submitted a £20 million proposal for Shaktar Donetsk winger Douglas Costa. The 24-year-old is currently on tour with the club's squad in South America, and it is believed that he is keen on the move.

Costa seems to be a slightly cost-effective alternative to Fiorentina’s Juan Cuadrado, as the Italian club expect the Blues to meet the Colombian's £26.8 million release clause. However, his transfer could get a little messy and long-drawn, following speculation that suggests Fiorentina manager Vincenzo Montella has threatened to resign if the winger is sold.

The Premier League leaders are hoping to replace Mohamed Salah, who is on his way to Roma on loan with a view of making the move permanent in the summer, after a disappointing stint at the London club.

Chelsea have informed Shaktar that they are willing to pay upto £20 million for Douglas Costa’s services, however it seems that the Ukrainian club are holding out for their valuation of £30 million, but the Londoners are hopeful of further negotiations.

The Brazil international has been capped only twice but has dual Portuguese nationality and so should qualify for a work permit. He has just has completed his fifth season at the Ukrainian club, having joined from Grêmio in 2010 for a price of around £4.5 million.

The player indicated this week that he would prefer a switch to London, saying, “It’s a dream to play for Chelsea, a unique opportunity,” he told the Brazilian newspaper, Globo Esporte. “I am trying to negotiate [a departure].”

With Salah leaving, and reports suggesting Andre Schurrle might consider a move back to Germany in the search for regular first-team football, Mourinho will be looking to land atleast one of Cuadrado and Costa, if not both of them.

Not looking to sell players: Mourinho

The Portuguese manager also re-iterated that he does not want to sell Schurrle in this window, saying, “The principle is that we would like him to stay. The question is not to be allowed or not allowed. The question is to have a phenomenal offer and a player to be super keen of accepting a new challenge in his career. We don’t want to sell our players.”

Schurrle has been a good impact player in his 18 months at Stamford Bridge but has failed to break into the first team and hold down a starting spot.