Birmingham could sign ex-Atletico Madrid and Chelsea striker if Maxi Lopez buys club

Former Argentine footballer Maxi Lopez wants to sign free agent Diego Costa if he gets control at Birmingham.

Birmingham’s Chinese owners are ready to sell a stake in the club and hand over running of the club to new directors. Lopez is part of a group bidding for control including lifelong Birmingham fan and businessmen Paul Richardson.

The pair attended Birmingham’s final day loss at home to Blackburn and are keen to run the club on a two-year management deal with a view to buying the club if successful. But they face competition from former Rangers director Donald Muir who has been approached by football financier Keith Harris for a potential £32million buy-out.

Muir was placed on the Ibrox board by the Lloyds Banking Group in 2009 to help combat the club’s debt and later went on to try to buy Charlton in 2018. While ex-Watford owner Laurence Bassini is also keen on buying into Birmingham and is trying to arrange funding. Brum’s Chinese owners have been keeping a low profile since a huge protest at their 2-1 win over Barnsley in January. The Championship club finished a lowly 20th after failing to win in their last six games. It has left boss Lee Bowyer in the dark on plans for next term, which is the final year of his contract.

The club remains under the control of Birmingham Sports Holdings Limited , where Hong Kong-based Paul Suen is the majority shareholder. He needs to retain his stake in Birmingham to keep his company’s listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange. He is open to investors though, who could look to buy him out down the line when he would have had time to buy another business and keep his company’s stock exchange listing.

Diego Costa scored 52 goals in 89 appearances in the Premier League for Chelsea between 2014 and 2017 ( Image: X01095)

These include Lopex, 38, who used to play for Barcelona, Richardson and Christian Codoma, who is the owner of Maxco Capital in London and runs Global Stars Management in Hong Kong. They want to see a Birmingham team with a better blend of youth and experience. Lopez has drawn up a list of potential transfer targets if he gets control including striker Costa,33, who won the Premier League twice with Chelsea.

He is a free agent after leaving Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro in January after four goals in 15 appearances as his side won the domestic double. Costa scored 52 Premier League goals in 89 appearances for Chelsea from 2014-2017 before returning to Atletico Madrid. Lopez is also believed to have a number of former South American stars interested in coaching roles at St Andrews if he gets control.