Coral rumour reel: Chelsea working on Douglas Costa deal and more

Chelsea, odds-on at 2/9 with Coral to win the Premier League, are reportedly working on a deal to bring Brazil international attacking midfielder Douglas Costa to Stamford Bridge.

This namesake of Blues star striker Diego Costa is on the books at Shakhtar Donetsk. Douglas Costa has spent five years with the Ukrainian outfit, but the successful signing of Willian has persuaded Jose Mourinho to look at this market again.

West London neighbours QPR (odds-on at 8/11 to be relegated), meanwhile, have been offered ex-AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato, now on loan in his native Brazil at Sao Paulo. Nicknamed ‘the Duck’, he is owned by Corinthians.

In other rumours, West Bromwich Albion (5/1 for the drop) have confirmed their interest in Wigan Athletic winger Callum McManaman and Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher, who is also wanted by West Ham United and Valencia.

Baggies boss Tony Pulis is also apparently keen on former Newcastle United target man Shola Ameobi, who is a free agent following an unsuccessful spell in Turkish football.

Pulis brought the Nigeria international on loan to Stoke City in 2008, and will be in need of a new striking option as Greece’s Georgios Samaras is set to leave The Hawthorns for the Middle East.

Crystal Palace, 9/2 for relegation, are closing in on the capture of Bolton Wanderers and South Korea winger Lee Chung-Yong in a cut-price deal, while Trotters boss Neil Lennon chases frontman Adam le Fondre on loan from Cardiff City.

Mid-table team Swansea City, meanwhile, continue to look at bolstering everywhere but their strike-force, as their interest in Norwich City left back Martin Olsson and creative Stuttgart player Alexandru Iulian Maxim.