Chelsea plot £16m bid for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Douglas Costa

Chelsea are considering a move to sign Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Douglas Costa in January.

The 24-year-old is one of the star players for the Ukrainian club since joining them from Gremio in 2010. He was closely monitored by the Blues and their league rivals Manchester United in the past as both clubs wanted to sign him when he was 18.

Jose Mourinho is set to allow two of the Blues attackers Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah to leave Stamford Bridge in the ongoing transfer window. The Daily Mail reports that Chelsea will add the Brazilian international, who is valued to be around £16m, to their squad this month.

Salah has failed to get regular playing time since joining the west London club last January. It is believed that the Egyptian winger will join AS Roma on-loan until the end of the season before making his move permanent in the summer.

Chelsea are keen on signing Fiorentina star Juan Cuadrado. The Colombian winger has a £26.8m release clause, while the Portuguese tactician has offered £20.6m, which is just over £6m short of their valuation.

With both clubs set for negotiations over the transfer fee, Chelsea are looking for alternatives and have set their sights on the Shakhtar midfielder. The player is eager to make a switch to England and has publicly expressed his desire to play for the Premier League leaders.

"I'm five years ago and I think I've got time. It's a dream to play at Chelsea, is a unique chance. I will try to negotiate," Costa told GloboEsporte.com.

Meanwhile, Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is content with the final score after the Blues settled for a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final clash.

"We like to play these games. It was difficult to get a better result but the draw is not bad," Courtois told the club's official website.

"With the chances they had in the second half and they hit the post, we have to be happy with the result. Now we have to finish it at home, where we are strong, in front of our own fans. The game will be like a final. We can win there and go to Wembley."