The latest update in the situation between Chelsea and their star striker Diego Costa is that the Blues are not completely averse to letting him go this January.
The Times report that the Chelsea hierarchy are open to the idea of letting their top scorer leave in the current transfer window. They have set an asking price of a massive £130 million for Costa, and will be willing to do business if interest parties meet this world record fee.
Costa has been instrumental as the spearhead of their attack, racking up 14 goals and five assists for them in the Premier League. The Brazil-born Spaniard has been tempted by an offer from the Chinese Super League.
Costa reportedly rejected a new contract with the Blues before a training ground bust-up with manager Antonio Conte. The 28-year-old was subsequently dropped from the Blues line-up against Leicester City last weekend. However, he has since returned to training and is in line to feature in some capacity against Hull City on Sunday.
Diego Costa looked to have been completely swayed by the insane amounts of money the Chinese Super League is offering. Tianjin Quanjian reportedly offered Costa a staggering £570,000 per week in wages, and this is what sparked the former Atletico Madrid striker’s desire to leave.
The Blues have of course blocked any potential move and coaxed the striker to return to training.
It was believed that the London outfit would not even consider selling their striker this January. However the latest update suggests that Chelsea are calling out the Chinese Super League to put some serious money on the line and break the world record transfer fee for a footballer.
It is hard to envision any club outside of China willing to even consider such an outrageous move, and it is highly improbable that even the cash-heavy Chinese Super League clubs will pay the massive sum of £130 million for Costa.
Conte definitely doesn’t want to lose his star striker, but Costa reportedly wants £300,000 per week in wages to stay at Stamford Bridge. It looks almost certain that Chelsea will sell the wantaway Spaniard sooner rather than later.