Chelsea convinced Diego Costa to turn down a move to Liverpool in 2013 and wait for Jose Mourinho to come calling a year later, according to a new book.
The Brazilian signed for the Blues from Atletico Madrid last summer, but was courted by the Reds a year earlier.
Spanish writer Fran Guillen has revealed in his new book Diego Costa: The Art of War, that the West London outfit told him to wait for a move to Stamford Bridge.
"Liverpool were quickest off the mark, offering €25m (£17m) for the Brazilian and triggering the release clause in his contract," the London Evening Standard quotes Guillen as saying. "However, Jose Mourinho, recently returned to Chelsea, had also identified Costa as a primary target.
"If Costa could not be signed now, a strategy was needed to ensure he was delayed, and not diverted. Chelsea and Mourinho made their case to Costa and Atletico - turn down Liverpool now and we will sign you, for more money, in 12 months."
Costa scored 21 goals in his debut season for Chelsea.
Danielle Joynson
