Diego Costa’s future in limbo as Atletico chief insists club CANNOT sign him now… with Alvaro Morata on his way to Chelsea to replace him

ATLETICO MADRID president Enrique Cerezo has revealed he hasn't spoken to Diego Costa 'for over a year.'

The Chelsea outcast faces the prospect of being frozen out at Stamford Bridge as Alvaro Morata closes in on a switch to the Premier League champions. 

Costa is desperate to return to his former club after being told by text that he was not part of Antonio Conte's plans.

But Atletico have a transfer ban and although they can agree in principle to buy players, they cannot be registered until January.

And it appears the club are in no rush to bring Costa back to the club anytime soon.

Reported by the , Atletico president Cerezo said: "Diego Costa is a great player, he is magnificent.

"But at the moment, he is a Chelsea player and you know we cannot sign him.

"I have not talked to him for a long time, for at least a year, since he left I've spoken to him very little."

Costa, who has been left out of Chelsea's pre-season tour of Asia, left Conte furious in a recent Instagram post.

The 28-year-old was seen wearing an Atletico Madrid shirt whilst commenting 'give Conte a hug from me.'

Meanwhile his replacement Morata is on the verge of becoming the club's most expensive player ever in a £65million deal.

Morata is set to break off from Madrid’s pre-season tour of the US to thrash out personal terms with the Premier League champions before signing on the dotted line.