Everton striker Nikola Vlasic has revealed that the club kept the number 19 shirt vacant in the event that Diego Costa joined from Chelsea.

The Merseyside outfit were linked with a swoop for the controversial forward towards the closing stages of the summer transfer window.

Romelu Lukaku's £75m departure to Manchester United left a vacancy in the attacking department, but in the end, Costa opted to rejoin Atletico Madrid, where he will be ineligible to play until January.

While speaking to 24sata, Vlasic explained his reasons behind selecting the number 27 shirt when he finalised a £10m switch from Hajduk Split on transfer deadline day.

"Number 27 was free," the Croatian said. "I wanted eight but Ross Barkley wears it, while the club was keeping 19 for Diego Costa."

Meanwhile, David Unsworth has been placed in temporary charge of the Blues following Ronald Koeman's sacking on Monday.