Diego Costa ‘has already said goodbye to his Chelsea team-mates and does NOT expect to go on tour’
Spanish international already saying his farewells as Antonio Conte faces up to striker crisis ahead of return to action
DIEGO COSTA has already begun saying goodbye to his Chelsea team-mates as the Blues face up to a striker crisis.
The Spanish international has already contacted several of his colleagues to say farewell ahead of his expected departure.
They are plotting whether to make an 11th hour move of their own for the Belgian or reignite their interest in Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata.
Lukaku had favoured a return to Stamford Bridge, which still gives them hope of landing the star.
They could still switch targets and go all out for Arsenal’s contract rebel Alexis Sanchez.
Torino hitman Andrea Belotti also remains another option.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is due to return to work this weekend and is believed to be very anxious about his striker situation.
And having failed to land a replacement, his decision to inform Costa by text message that he was no longer wanted looks ill-advised.
Costa, last season’s top scorer for the title winners, is only willing to leave if he can return to his former side Atletico Madrid.
The La Liga giants currently have a transfer embargo placed on them by Fifa, leaving them unable to sign anyone until January, although they are trying to work around that.
Chelsea, however, are only willing to excuse him from training if a switch back to Atletico is agreed.
But with a lack of senior centre forwards, it remains to be seen whether club officials try make the pair forge a truce.
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