🇪🇸 Diego Costa

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Wow, what a battling performance yesterday. Not at his absolute best, but signs his confidence is returning rapidly. Nothing outstanding,  but a far cry from his recent form. That turn on Williams on the half-way line was reminiscent of the turn against Otamendi (I think?) when we did City 3-1 at the Emptyhad. Unfortunate with his one big chance, the ball just wouldn't come down quickly enough, but his hold-up play put Lukaku to shame. His involvement in Willian's goal was superb, what fantastic off-the-ball movement and a slick little inside pass to get Fabregas through into the box. Returning to form at the right time!

[xPetrCechx 13,571]

[kmk108 1,186]

If true, it's disappointing seeing such a good player go for a money-grab

[Blue-in-me-Veins 4,067]

And that's all she wrote.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Surely bullshit. I can't imagine any manager, let alone Conte, replacing the fiery sort of player Diego Costa is with a different sort of player like Alvaro Morata.... no disrespect to Morata, he is good but he isn't even able of getting in the Real team ahead of Benzema who this season has struggled a lot (despite Morata outscoring him, Benzema has almost double the starts). Its not like Zidane hasn't been fair either when you consider Vasquez, Casemiro, Asensio, Kovacic, Nacho, even Morata considerable time from subs bench, all getting playtime ahead of some other guys too who have struggled. Plus who lets anybody sign a transfer deal away from the club who is at this important stage of the season with the league and cup final coming up? I could imagine Morata coming to compete with Diego but honestly can't see him replacing him. 

[Strike 7,491]

I call bullshit. No way any Chelsea player is signing anything until the title is won

[Special Juan 28,141]

Good if true, because we will get a shed load of cash, but hopefully do not spend one penny of it on Morata.

[It's too big 625]

38 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

Good if true, because we will get a shed load of cash, but hopefully do not spend one penny of it on Morata.

€90 million is not a shed load of cash for our 2nd most important player and main striker. I really would have preferred us get quite a bit more than that considering how much the Chinese have been willing to pay out for average players. 

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

I usually will not judge on these kind of rumours because I know nothing about how those Chinese football clubs are run and apart from the shitloads of money you earn theere, I don't see why anyone should go there. I could imagine that players are driven by their money-grabbing entourage to take those excessive wages. Otherwise I personally see no gain for a player. At some point, does it really matter if u have 20m or 80m ?

 

Back to Costa. Even though I would prefer to not lose our entire strikeforce in one window, if any of those China rumours are true, I hope he fucks off. Because leaving Europe before having won enough titles to warrant a new challenge shows lack of ambition and would explain his indifferent form since January. 

Moreover. Costa with all his antics is too high maintenance for a player with only a decent output. Esp in the later stages of this season and the 2014/15 one his scoring dwindled when there was a lot at stake so he definitely is not the top class striker we need to be challenging in Europe again next season. 

[Special Juan 28,141]

8 minutes ago, It's too big said:

€90 million is not a shed load of cash for our 2nd most important player and main striker. I really would have preferred us get quite a bit more than that considering how much the Chinese have been willing to pay out for average players. 

It's a lot of money for a player who in January looked as if he was on his way. Of course he is a crucial player, for now. But the money supposedly being offered we can get a better player, lower maintenance and and probably even have money left over.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Delighted. Thought they'd not want him anymore after his performances this half of the season. It helps us massively moving forward as a club. Diego Costa has been our best since Didier, but he certainly ain't irreplaceable. 

[kellzfresh 7,229]

18 minutes ago, The Skipper said:

Delighted. Thought they'd not want him anymore after his performances this half of the season. It helps us massively moving forward as a club. Diego Costa has been our best since Didier, but he certainly ain't irreplaceable. 

The only reason I'm okay with him leaving is because, I have a feeling his head isn't with Chelsea anymore since China came in january. That's why he was world class in the first half of the season and now is playing like a mid-table striker. But it will be very difficult to find one who can replicate his first half of the season instantly. 

We might have to gamble on upcoming strikers. 

[Leif 6,006]

To sell Costa for so much and then to just buy Morata would be like Barcelona selling Neymar for a mega sum only to buy Marcus Rashford.

[Leif 6,006]

1 hour ago, It's too big said:

€90 million is not a shed load of cash for our 2nd most important player and main striker. I really would have preferred us get quite a bit more than that considering how much the Chinese have been willing to pay out for average players. 

Considering the market's current climate, 90m euroes should be the going standard for Costa, locally. To be selling him to super-bloated rich kids in China, and seek no improvement on that figure? Complete oversight. They'd pay 140m and that's what should be pushed for.

[Pizy 18,926]

It would just have to be Morata in addition to an actually prolific striker like Lukaku. To essentially do a straight swap of a guarenteed 20+ goal scorer in Diego to Morata would be a huge let down. Morata only makes me excited if he's part of a striker partnership. He and Big Rom as a two-headed beast would be super exciting.

At the same time, we keep hearing that Monaco will not sell Mbappe for less than 100m. The fees we'll have received for Oscar and then Costa would easily cover that. Maybe see if they'd accept like 80m with milestone related add-ons that eventually reach the 100m mark like United did with Martial. He looks like a can't miss, sure fire superstar and a great investment.  

[mccg 1,528]

Ffs we are playing for the title and cup , transfers/pre contracts should not be mentioned before season ends never mind the opening of the actual transfer window, i'd like fifa to start slapping sanctions on all this pre contract/  transfers nonsense , yeah agents and media mostly to blame but its ugly 4sure!

[The Skipper 20,609]

1 hour ago, mccg said:

Ffs we are playing for the title and cup , transfers/pre contracts should not be mentioned before season ends never mind the opening of the actual transfer window, i'd like fifa to start slapping sanctions on all this pre contract/  transfers nonsense , yeah agents and media mostly to blame but its ugly 4sure!

I can't agree. It would be hypocritical because Chelsea do it all the time. 

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Why are some slamming Morata though? He's a ridiculously talented striker, more talented than Costa for sure. Just because he doesn't get a game in Madrid doesn't mean shit. He's a better player than Benzema 100% but we know the politics in Madrid means Benzema starts. 

[Pizy 18,926]

16 minutes ago, MrExcalibur100 said:

Why are some slamming Morata though? He's a ridiculously talented striker, more talented than Costa for sure. Just because he doesn't get a game in Madrid doesn't mean shit. He's a better player than Benzema 100% but we know the politics in Madrid means Benzema starts. 

He's very talented and could be a great signing for us in the right circumstances. But these reports saying we're going to replace Costa like for like with Morata are concerning. I don't think he's good enough currently to lead our line as the sole #9 for an entire league season + CL. He's a great complimentary striker. 

A bit like Dybala is for Higuain.

[xPetrCechx 13,571]

Costa Is Gone, 100%.