Chelsea Transfer News: Jackson Martinez's Agent Talks Diego Costa Swap Rumours

The agent of Atletico Madrid striker Jackson Martinez has dismissed speculation his client will move to Stamford Bridge as part of a swap deal with former Rojiblancos forward Diego Costa next year.

Henrique Pompeo told Jorge Garcia of Spanish newspaper AS that while he "can't say" rumours of Chelsea's interest in Martinez are a lie, the Colombia international is hoping to stay at the Vicente Calderon:

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Jackson wants to be a success at Atletico, and he will be, but it's the club that decides his future. I can't say it's a lie, this is football and nobody knows what the future holds, what I can say is that Jackson isn't a player who leaves a club unless it's through the front door.

He made a decision and he's very happy in Madrid, he loves the club, although obviously he would have preferred to have got off to a different start on a personal level, but he's happy for the squad because things are going well. Jackson is very grateful to Atletico, to Gil Marin and [President Enrique] Cerezo , because they made a big economic effort to sign him and with calm and continuity Jackson will pay them back on the pitch. He's had to adapt to a new mentality playing style, and a thousand other things, and then he was injured.

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Costa moved to west London from Atletico 18 months ago and went on to win the Premier League in his maiden campaign with the Blues, but this season has seen the Brazilian's form undergo a rapid decline.

However, the striker scored two goals in Saturday's 2-2 draw against Watford in the first match under interim manager Guus Hiddink. The feat was marred after Costa picked up his fifth booking of the season, meaning he'll be suspended for Monday's trip to Manchester United, but Hiddink had praise for his front man, per the Telegraph's Sam Wallace:

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He [Costa] focused himself where he's good, and there he's very dangerous. That's important. He's not wasting extra energy where he shouldn't, and he did that. He is out for United, with a fifth [booking]. Which means we have to think how to solve that problem. It's a pity because he'd put in a good performance. So we need to solve that problem in the next 48 hours.

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Martinez has made 10 starts under Diego Simeone since joining Atleti from Porto for £29 million last summer, largely playing second fiddle to Antoine Griezmann in attack.

Los Rojiblancos president Enrique Cerezo also sent speculation of a potential Costa return into overdrive recently when he suggested the Spain international could yet make a return to Spain's capital, per AS: 

"Right now, Diego is a Chelsea player, and he has to focus on Chelsea. But you never know what will happen in football, and sometimes players do return to their former clubs."

If Costa's first outing as a Hiddink player was anything to go by, the striker's form may be ready for a resurgence under the guidance of his new boss, meaning a January replacement may no longer be a big concern.

In any case, Martinez doesn't appear the most obvious candidate to provide the goals Chelsea are seeking, considering he's played a full 90 minutes just twice for Atletico, scoring three goals for the club in total.

Instead, Chelsea would be investing in the South American based more on the form he showed at previous club Porto, leaving the Portuguese giants with a record of 92 goals in 133 games, per Transfermarkt.

The Dragons gifted their departed star a goodbye present, too, after Metro's Primeira Liga expert Jan Hagen confirmed Martinez had been awarded Porto's Athlete of the Season award for 2014-15:

A slow start to life in La Liga hasn't been enough to dismay Martinez, it seems, after Radio Marca (h/t ESPN FC) quoted the forward, who said he'll "fight to the end" to prove his credentials to the club.

Attack may not be Hiddink's major concern when one takes into account the fact Chelsea have scored 23 goals this Premier League season, the second-highest tally in the bottom half of the table and as many as fifth-place Crystal Palace.

Their total of 29 goals conceded, however, is just three fewer than basement team Aston Villa, with the west Londoners managing only four clean sheets in 18 outings.

A swap deal with Costa appears to be off the cards for the time being, with Martinez looking to improve on a lacklustre start to life in Madrid while Chelsea hope to revive the best in last season's Stamford Bridge hero.