Chelsea: Shakhtar Donetsk star Douglas Costa confirms talks with Premier League leaders

Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Douglas Costa's flirtation with Chelsea has continued after the Brazil international revealed he held talks with the Premier League leaders during the January transfer window.

Costa was linked with a €30m (£22m, $34m) move to Stamford Bridge in the mid-season window but manager Jose Mourinho made just one addition in the form of Colombian winger Juan Cuadrado, while Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah both left the club.

And the 24-year-old has revealed Chelsea made contact over his signing but has refused to comment on why the deal fell through.

"Yes, I had a contact [with Chelsea] and the chance to work with a coach like Jose Mourinho always motivates a player," he told Goal.com. "I am very grateful for the kindness he showed with me. He is a very smart coach and who won [titles] wherever he has gone."

Mourinho said during the January window that he welcomed Costa's interest in moving to Chelsea but it is yet unknown whether the west London club will rekindle their interest in the midfielder during the summer.

"I am always happy when a player tells us that he would like to play for my club," Mourinho said. "I am always happy so the reaction for Douglas Costa is the reaction of being happy with his comments and every Douglas Costa in the world that would like to play for Chelsea these kind of feelings are always welcome."

Costa has made 11 appearances during the Ukrainian domestic season, playing against Vorskla in the first game back after the winter break, while he has featured in all of Shakhtar's seven Champions League games, including the last-16 tie against Bayern Munich.

The ex-Gremio star will have the opportunity to further impress onlookers from Chelsea when his side travel to Bayern for the second leg on 11 March, while Mourinho's side host Paris Saint-Germain.