Diego Costa could return to action in Portugal as 'Benfica table two-year contract worth £5m'

Former Chelsea striker Diego Costa 'has been offered a £2.6million-a-year contract' by Portuguese club Benfica.

The 32-year-old Spain international has been a free agent since Atletico Madrid granted his request to terminate his contract early at the end of December.

And he could return to football in Portugal with Benfica reportedly making contact with Costa and tabling an offer to sign him.

Goal say Benfica want Costa for two years, which means he stands to earn about £5m in wages in that time. He will also receive a transfer bonus of around £2.6m.

Costa, who played for Chelsea between 2014 and 2017, was linked with a return to the Premier League during the January transfer window with Manchester City, West Ham and Tottenham among those reportedly interested.

But a move didn't come about and Costa has since been linked with a return to his homeland of Brazil with either Sao Paulo or Palmeiras.

But Benfica is thought to be Costa's preferred destination at the moment.

His second stint with Atletico saw him score 19 goals in 81 matches but after two goals in the first half of the season for Diego Simeone's team, he was released from his deal six months early for personal reasons.

Costa's final goal for the club came from the penalty spot during a 3-1 home win over Elche on December 19.