🇪🇸 Diego Costa

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Don't know if it is the best idea, as I couldn't read what Diego thinking at the moment and how big his commitment still with us, but the contract signing would be the perfect way to end all the speculation. I am one of the group, who almost sure that he will gone couple of weeks ago, but it is just nice to see, we can keep one of the important player that almost shown the exit door. If he is staying and sign the new contract, so be it.

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

I reckon he'll sign a new deal now. I wonder how much Antonio has had to do with it, rumour has it he's desperate to keep him so if that's the case and the club are on the same page, that bodes well for the pull Conte has at the club, hopefully he'll be back properly in the window as well.

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

So here’s Het Nieuwsblad asking Costa if he thinks he could play in tandem with Romelu Lukaku.

“I do not know, that’s a decision for the club. Of course Lukaku is a very big player who has played an impressive season. I hope he will have the possibility to sign at Chelsea because Chelsea is a unique club.”

And what about Batshuayi?

“He is a big player and has an impressive future for himself He has proven in the last games that he has quality and scoring ability. He is a boy who will take more big steps.”

“Hopefully he will continue to grow and keep his head up. He has all the qualities to stay here. Chelsea might sign a new striker, Batshuayi may stay because he’s young and I could be leaving.”

-Diego Costa; source: Het Nieuwsblad via Football 365

[DYC. 7,542]

Surely, Chelsea and Atletico could make a deal which would involve Griezmann joining Chelsea and Diego going the other way. That way Atleti don't lose their main source of goals without a proper replacement. A former fan favourite who dreams of returning as well. Simply ideal. 60-80 mil for Griezmann, 30-50 for Costa. Question is if Griezmann would want to join.

I don't mind Costa staying though. But there's no way Chels can go another season playing Costa every game. Either Michy plays a larger part next season, a new striker joins or a wide forward capable of playing in the middle is purchased.

 

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

#CFC & Costa will attempt to reach an agreement in coming days: a 3 year contract worth almost €15m/ year is the objective (via @DiMarzio)

[LAM09 7,051]

1 minute ago, Eidur the Spider said:

#CFC & Costa will attempt to reach an agreement in coming days: a 3 year contract worth almost €15m/ year is the objective (via @DiMarzio)

I personally hope another big name CF is lined up regardless of what happens.

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

Just now, LAM09 said:

I personally hope another big name CF is lined up regardless of what happens.

I genuinely believe that will be the case. I can see Michy going out on loan to get minutes in the prem, and Lukaku coming in. I think Antonio knows he can't rely on just Diego with a season of Champions League and Premier League coming up.

[LAM09 7,051]

4 minutes ago, Eidur the Spider said:

I genuinely believe that will be the case. I can see Michy going out on loan to get minutes in the prem, and Lukaku coming in. I think Antonio knows he can't rely on just Diego with a season of Champions League and Premier League coming up.

Costa & Lukaku isn't a CF pairing that I can see conquering all infront of them.

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

7 minutes ago, LAM09 said:

Costa & Lukaku isn't a CF pairing that I can see conquering all infront of them.

If Costa does stay and it looks all the more likely, its gonna be difficult to get a 'top striker' like Aubameyang or whoever to come here because they know there's competition for the top spot. If Conte can convince Lukaku, an up and coming striker with some serious potential, to come back and fight for the spot then I'm happy with that. I guess it's just me thinking back to when we had Torres, Ba, and Eto'o and the idea of Costa, Lukaku and say someone like Dembele or Llorente doesn't seem too bad at all.

[Pizy 18,907]

Don't see how hey could possibly play together unless one of them is completely out of position. Just makes no sense to have two pure #9's.

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

 

What a turn of events..

[Fernando 6,585]

Costa and Sanches would be ideal. 

But that might be hard. 

Lukaku would not mind having him back but if Costa stay let's get a complement for him. 

Morata to me fits the bill. 

After that I still take Llorente for back up, super sub type of striker. 

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

Forgot about Sanchez. Can't see it happening but my God I'd lose it if we did. Dream signing.

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

If we keep Costa, then this is what I hope happens:

CFC sign a World Class wide forward in the ilk of Sanchez/Griezmann or whomever that can play both RF and ST. 

AND!

Either Conte seriously begins to trust Batshuayi next season (who I fully believe has earned that trust) OR! A different backup striker like Llorente or whomever is bought instead. 

All I ask, is that Costa doesn't go into another season with absolutely no competition for his starting place. He needs to know that if he produces fuck all for weeks/months like has has post January, that Conte will drop him with no hesitation.  

 

Side Note: the fucking cojones Costa has to issue the club an ultimatum not even an hour after the FA Cup Final, after he threw a temper tantrum and nearly derailed the team's season because China came calling is just amazing. Now that the Chinese club doesn't want to offer that insane amount of money to buy him, suddenly Chelsea is the place he wants to be if its not Atletico Madrid. 

Having said all this, would still be happy if he stayed. He literally won us the Title from September to December. Mad ting. 

[Fernando 6,585]

I can also see why someone like Mertens might have been ideal. 

But he signed a contract extension, oh well. 

[Pizy 18,907]

Costa + Morata or Lukaku + Morata for me. A battering ram partnered with an elegant, technically great striker. Morata can surely be signed relatively easily unlike Sanchez or Griezmann and Lukaku is probably desperate to come back. 

Whatever happens we'll be fine. If there's one position our club is always willing to spend big on its striker. It's the other positions I'm anxious about.

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

I thought Morata was heading for Milan?

[Pizy 18,907]

1 minute ago, Eidur the Spider said:

I thought Morata was heading for Milan?

Saw those rumors too but I find it hard to believe that he'd turn down a big PL club offering him a star role. Unless Milan are offering him insane money, I don't see why any top player would go there at this time.

[Superblue 6,372]

I can't believe some people wanting to get rid of Costa. Yes he can be a liability at times, and look one decision away from a red card but I do believe he has curbed a lot of that controversy on the pitch.

I also understand the argument that he is a streaky player and will then struggle for a period of games, this is the life of a striker, very few score throughout the season without lean spells. Harry Kane's season went from looking very good, to looking phenomenal simply because he banged in 7 goals in his last two games.

But let's look at the positives, he's spearheaded our attack in two league titles in three seasons, those two seasons being our top scorer. I'm sure I also saw a stat that his goals and assists have directly won us more points then any other player in the league this season. It's easy for a striker to score goals when we're smashing teams and looking great, but there's very few players that can produce when their team really needs a breakthrough goal. Costa's performance away at Man City was up there as one of the best games I've seen from any of our strikers in such a difficult, big game.

There is no guarantee that bringing in a new striker will produce better than him and his goal record in his three seasons at Chelsea is up there with some of the best strikers to ever grace the Premier League...and that's considering last season was terrible! I think if he wants to stay and his head is right and heart is fully invested in the club then it would be suicide to let him go.

I do agree he needs help. I believe a hybrid style forward would be our best bet. Sanchez would obviously be fantastic but someone that could play either as a second striker or one of the two in behind, and could provide an option up front to replace Costa when he's struggling or injured. I would keep Bats too. Three striker options would be required for next season to challenge on all fronts.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

3 hours ago, Blue-in-me-Veins said:

Side Note: the fucking cojones Costa has to issue the club an ultimatum not even an hour after the FA Cup Final, after he threw a temper tantrum and nearly derailed the team's season because China came calling is just amazing. Now that the Chinese club doesn't want to offer that insane amount of money to buy him, suddenly Chelsea is the place he wants to be if its not Atletico Madrid. 

Having said all this, would still be happy if he stayed. He literally won us the Title from September to December. Mad ting. 

How the heck do you know he actualy wanted to go to China? 

Everyone knows he likes Atletico, but even then he said IF Chelsea doesnt want him, he will only leave for Atletico, if they dont bid, he rather stay here until end of contract. 

What if Chelsea started pushing him out after China offered all that money? And he decided to not give shit after hearing that out? 

Im throwing IFs, but fuck, the media is all bullshit these days and you guys picked those Diego to China rumours imediately and now base all the opinions off of them, while these events might not even be true.

We all have seen Diego cares for Chelsea, I agree he played poor in recent months and that needs to be evaluated, but neither should point fingers at Diego, not until someone officialy says he wanted to leave us for China and intentionaly played poor. And I doubt anyone will say that because media likely just made it all up to turn up the heat at chelsea. 

Back on topic, if Diego stays I pray we get Morata, that would be ideal. Or Alexis/Grizi but thats a stretch.