Tianjin quick to scuttle talk of Costa transfer

Tianjin Quanjian is denying that Chelsea striker Diego Costa has agreed to join the Chinese Super League club after reports claimed the Brazilian forward would move for a record-breaking $100 million transfer fee in the offseason.

Tianjin, coached by Italian World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro and last season's Chinese second division champion, on Friday denied it had entered into any negotiations with the prolific Premier League player.

"Regarding the widely spread rumor of the transfer of Chelsea player Diego Costa to Tianjin, we hereby declare that so far we have not communicated with Costa regarding a transfer," read a statement on the club's official Weibo account.

Spanish newspaper Cadena Ser reported on Thursday that Costa had met with officials from Tianjin, along with his agent, Jorge Mendes, and a three-year deal had been struck.

The newspaper said the forward would join Tianjin from Chelsea for $98.78 million, with Costa receiving a salary of $32.93 million per year.

Should the deal be completed as reported, the transfer fee would set a new Asian record and eclipse the highest amount paid by a Chinese club for a foreign player, the $66 million Shanghai SIPG spent to lure Brazilian forward Oscar in January.

Tianjin has made no secret of its ambition, having already lured Belgium international midfielder Axel Witsel, who joined from Zenit St Petersburg, and former AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato.

They were linked with a move for Costa during the January transfer window and British media reports said the striker had quarreled with, and been dropped by coach Antonio Conte after a lucrative offer was rebuffed by the London club.

Costa looks set to win his second Premier League title in three years at Stamford Bridge with his 19 league goals helping Chelsea to a four-point lead over Tottenham Hotspur with four matches remaining.

Asked last week about persistent speculation that Costa might leave Chelsea after the current season, Conte said such talk seemed to be an attempt to distract his players from their target of winning the title.

"We must be stronger than this speculation because we must be compact and think that our target is really important," the Italian said.