Chelsea: New development leaves Costa’s future in doubt

Striker Diego Costa may leave Chelsea at the end of the season as the Blues have received a boost in their Romelu Lukaku chase, Evening Standard claims.

Costa’s form has been below par since Chinese Super League side Tianjin offered the player a record-breaking £570,000 a week deal as he has scored only three goals in 2017. The deal was barred by Antonio  Conte who deems Costa an important player in Chelsea’s chase for the double this year, but new developments surrounding the Blues interest in Everton’s Lukaku may leave the door open for Costa to leave in the summer.

Reports suggest that Everton have already identified their replacement for Lukaku in Chelsea’s youth prospect Tammy Abraham, who has impressed during his loan spell at Bristol City.

The Blues are currently unwilling to let go of their starlet as they have reportedly rejected a £10 million bid from a Premier League club in January, but may use Abraham as a bargaining chip for a potential Lukaku deal. Chelsea are believed to be on the lookout for two centre forwards should Costa leave, with their other trasfer interest being Arsenal’s top performer Alexis Sanchez.

Sanchez boosted the Blues’ hopes of signing him earlier by claiming he would love to stay in London but only if he played for a ‘winning club’, while Lukaku spent three years at Chelsea between 2011 and 14 and is believed to be very interested in rejoining his old club.