Chelsea’s attempts to solve their Diego Costa conundrum have been hit by a FIFA ruling which will prevent a transfer to Atletico Madrid followed by an instant move on loan.
Atletico are banned from registering any new players until the end of the year as punishment for illegal transfer activity.
They are not technically banned from making new signings but, according to FIFA, they have to first register any player before he can be loaned out.
This effectively rules out Chelsea’s preferred solution to the mess they are in with Costa.