More creative solutions needed as AC Milan cannot afford Costa — report

Yesterday it looked like AC Milan could offer an unlikely escape hatch for everyone to walk away from the incendiary device called Diego Costa without getting too badly burned. Today, that’s already looking less likely, with various reports claiming that Milan, even with new owners in tow, cannot afford Costa’s wage demands.

Here’s one from the Telegraph’s Matt Law, for example, which puts said demands at £200,000 (so basically what Chelsea were set to pay him with the rumored contract extension). There’s no word on whether Milan could afford the £40m transfer fee that was rumored, but they are apparently (and understandably) not keen on just a loan. Unlike three years ago when they willingly took on Fernando Torres in a similar situation, Milan aren’t willing to be stupid patsies this time.

More creative solutions are needed now to resolve this situation. Maybe we can subsidize a deal somehow? Or maybe Atleti can, like this report from the Standard about a potential short-term loan to China via Atleti’s part-owners claims.

On a more positive note, the Costa situation is apparently “not stalling” Chelsea’s negotiations over Lukaku, though said negotiations are undoubtedly harder now than, say, 48 hours ago, before Costa took to the mic after the Spain vs. Colombia friendly.