Costa has been in exile since being told he's not wanted by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.

Conte ditched the Spain international via a text message over the summer, telling him he's not in his plans for this season despite his red-hot campaign as the Blues won the Premier League title.

Costa responded by heading back to his native Brazil and refusing to return.

He's been fined by Chelsea for failing to head back to London and train.

But it's now claimed he could be set to end his strike.

The Telegraph report the Chelsea squad believe Costa is close to ending his stand-off with the club.

It's said Costa is giving 'serious consideration' to returning to training at the Blues' Cobham HQ.

There he'll train with the club's U23 side, rather than Antonio Conte's senior squad.

Costa has insisted he only wants to join Atletico Madrid - but no fee was agreed for his services in the summer.

Atletico were under no immediate pressure to sign the Chelsea star, with the club under a transfer embargo until January.

Costa could yet move to the La Liga side in January, but will want to be in training and fit so he can hit the ground running.