Italy manager Antonio Conte looks all but certain to take over at Chelsea next season and is reportedly keen to keep star striker Diego Costa at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have endured their worst season in the Premier League since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003. The defending champions currently lie 10th in the league table, with little hope of European football next season.
Among a host of changes that the Blues are likely to make in the summer, former Juventus manager Antonio Conte is widely expected to take over the manager’s position from Guus Hiddink at Stamford Bridge.
His arrival could also mean an overhaul of the current squad, with a number of Chelsea’s stars already being linked with moves away from the club. Diego Costa has been among those names, but reports in Spain suggest that Conte is keen on retaining the Brazil-born Spain international.
According to Spanish publication Marca, Conte wants to keep star striker Diego Costa at Stamford Bridge. The report states that Conte maintains an interest in the 27-year-old and will look to include him in the team setup, even though the former Atletico Madrid striker has maintained close ties with his former club.
Can Costa start conquering again?
Diego Costa made a name for himself in La Liga with Atletico Madrid before making a 32 million pound switch to Chelsea ahead of the 2014-15 season. His first campaign with the Blues was a great success, as they won the Premier League title and the Capital One Cup, with Costa scoring 21 goals.
His second season has been poor, however. The Spaniard could not find his feet at the beginning of the season and his improvement after the departure of Jose Mourinho has helped him take his Premier League tally to 11. While Costa continues to be linked with a move back to Atletico, Conte would probably like to keep the talented striker on the Blues’ roster.
