Diego Costa is closing in on a sensational Chelsea departure, according to the latest reports. Do the Blues need him? Or can they afford to let him go?
While all the talk is about players who may arrive at Stamford Bridge, the latest story concerns a high-profile departure. Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo revealed that the Spaniards are ‘close’ to bringing Diego Costa back. Can Chelsea afford to let him go?
According to the Daily Mirror, the Atletico official stated that he is actively working on a deal for the forward and that it is certainly on the table.
"We like him a lot, I’ll admit. We are talking to the player and working on him returning to Madrid. It’s close, but I can’t say anymore."
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Diego Costa made his name with Atletico Madrid, powering them to a magnificent La Liga win during the 2013/14 season. He then moved to the Premier League for over £30 million and helped Chelsea return to the summit of England’s top flight.
However, last season raised serious questions over his consistency on the field and his happiness off it. The Blues were atrocious, but Diego Costa was one of the chief underperformers. His poor form lent itself to rumours surrounding homesickness and discontent in West London.
The stories have failed to completely disappear and now it appears that he is closer to a departure than ever before.
Chelsea will certainly be weakened by his sale. The Blues currently possess two true first-team strikers: Diego Costa and the precious Michy Batshuayi. If the former were to depart, Chelsea would be lacking an established striker.
Batshuayi is expected to take his time to settle into the team, given the rigours of Premier League life and his tender age. Loic Remy is somehow still on Chelsea’s books, but few will be excited about the prospect of the Frenchman leading the line.
A Diego Costa departure would require the Blues to dip into the transfer market for a new frontman. A successful foray will not be easy by any stretch of the imagination.
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The financial playing field is levelling and prices are inflating at exponential rates. If Chelsea want to secure a proven goalscorer, they would likely need to part with over £50 million. Some of this will be funded by the proceeds from Costa’s sale, but will Chelsea have sufficient funds?
The club have already spent over £60 million on just two players (Batshuayi and N’Golo Kante). They are also weighing up defensive reinforcements. Roman Abramovich’s pockets are deep, but it is unclear whether he will be willing to splash so much cash.
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The bottom line is that Chelsea must keep Diego Costa. Even if there are doubts over his consistency, Antonio Conte needs an established striker to lead the club back to the Champions League.