Diego Costa could have joined Liverpool before Jose Mourinho stepped in

Diego Costa was in fantastic form for Chelsea last season as his 20 league goals fired the Blues to the Premier League title, however it could have been Liverpool who reaped the rewards of the Spain international's tenacity.

Costa moved to Stamford Bridge from Atletico Madrid last summer after the club met the £32 million buy-out clause in his contract, but it has been revealed Liverpool were the first club to meet the clause.

In his new book 'Diego Costa: The Art of War' Spanish writer Fran Guillen revealed how Jose Mourinho convinced Costa to shun the Merseyside club and join him at Chelsea.

Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool originally made the first move in the summer of 2013, triggering a smaller release clause of £17m.

However in excerpts of the book revealed in the London Evening Standard, Guillen revealed how with careful planning and the promise of more money the Brazilian born striker was convinced his future lay in London and not Merseyside.