Diego Costa is reportedly set to have showdown talks with Antonio Conte as the Spain striker could yet have a future at Chelsea.
According to a report in The Sun, Diego Costa is open to representing Chelsea once again despite being told by Antonio Conte that he has no future at Stamford Bridge. The Spain striker is, thus, set to have talks with his manager over his position at the West London club.
Costa has endured a topsy turvy spell at Chelsea ever since making the switch from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2014. While the player has been one of the most prolific strikers in the Premier League in the last three seasons, he has often frustrated with his tendency to be mired in controversial situations.
Nevertheless, the 28-year-old has played an instrumental role in both of Chelsea’s Premier League title triumphs since he moved to Chelsea. The recently concluded season saw Costa find the back of the net 20 times as he turned in several match winning performances for the Blues to shepherd their early campaign.
The Spaniard, though, was involved in a training ground bust-up with manager Antonio Conte earlier in the year. Furthermore, widespread reports of a lucrative move away from Stamford Bridge have further sought to worsen his case.
Costa was informed by Conte that he had no future at Chelsea, as confirmed by the player himself. Since then, the Spain international has been heavily linked with a return back to Atletico Madrid, with Chelsea seeking a viable replacement in his stead.
A move back to the Spanish capital though, is filled with complications as Los Rojiblancos are serving a transfer ban and are ineligible to register players this summer. But, Costa is adamant that he will only leave Chelsea to make the move to Atletico Madrid, with the Blues locked in negotiations with the La Liga club.
However, Costa could yet have a future at Chelsea despite everything that has transpired in recent weeks, after Chelsea failed in their pursuit of Romelu Lukaku. While the Premier League champions do have other transfer targets to consider as well, they would have to pay over the top to land them.
Thus, Costa and Chelsea are likely to enter showdown talks ahead of the club’s pre-season tour, with the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, initiating a truce between the two parties.
The 28-year-old is also willing to bury the hatchet with Conte as he is eager to make the Spain squad for next year’s World Cup and a full season at Chelsea will help him achieve that objective. It now remains to be seen if Costa ends up remaining at Chelsea, with pre-season set to begin soon.
