One-time Rodgers target who clashed with Virgil van Dijk now unlikely to face Liverpool

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Diego Costa is set to join Wolves but is not expected to make his debut against Liverpool this weekend given that he needs to build up his fitness.

Wolves really wanted a new striker before the transfer deadline amid concerns that Raul Jimenez may never get back to his best.

Stuttgart hitman Sasa Kalajdzic arrived on deadline day and sure enough, he started in Saturday’s clash with Southampton.

Sadly for the Austrian, Kalajdzic suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and was taken off at half time, with a lengthy absence now expected.

That’s rotten luck for Wolves and Kalajdzic, with Bruno Lage now needing to find another striker outside of the transfer window.

Diego Costa is set to join Wolves

The man Wolves are looking towards as the solution to their problems is Diego Costa.

Yes, the former Chelsea man is all set for a shock Premier League return at the age of 33.

Costa hasn’t played since turning out for Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro in 2021 but will now be a Premier League striker once again.

Fans will remember Costa’s goal-laden but drama-filled stint with Chelsea, bagging 59 goals in 120 goals for the Blues.

Something of a pantomime villain at times, Costa was a prolific goalscorer whilst being prone to clashes – even with his own manager.

Costa fell out with Antonio Conte at Chelsea and returned to Spain with former club Atletico Madrid.

Liverpool fans will recall Jordan Henderson’s stare-down with Costa way back in 2015, as well as a clash with Virgil van Dijk.

As noted by the Liverpool Echo in 2020, Costa attempted to irritate Van Dijk by jumping into him in a Champions League clash between Liverpool and Atletico.

Van Dijk wasn’t happy at all and snubbed Costa’s attempts to apologise, with referee Szymon Marciniak having to intervene.

So could Van Dijk and Costa renew pleasantries this weekend as Wolves head to take on Liverpool at Anfield?

It doesn’t look likely; The Telegraph report that Costa’s chances of making his Wolves debut on Saturday are ‘remote’ because he isn’t fit enough yet.

Liverpool fans will be gutted to miss out on the chance to boo and jeer Costa, whose move looks set to be confirmed imminently.

It could have all been so different though; Liverpool fans may not have felt that way about Costa had he chosen to join the Reds in 2013.

Brendan Rodgers made a move to sign Costa from Atletico Madrid but the striker stayed put, instead joining Chelsea a year later.

Costa and Luis Suarez in the same Liverpool team would have been quite the sight, and Costa will hope to show that he can still cut it in the Premier League – even if his Wolves opener won’t come against the Reds after all.