If Chelsea fans were looking for a quick and clean solution to the Diego Costa transfer saga, they may now be disappointed.
After several weeks of rumors and speculation about his transfer to Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian, Diego Costa responded to the speculation with a simple statement. Speaking to DirectTV Sport, Costa said “I am the owner of my future and it does not mean that I am going to China.”
If that appears to be a head-scratcher, it is only because it is confusing. Everything about Diego Costa in recent months has been in the shadow of a massive deal to go to China. The transfer has been a regular explanation / excuse for his dip in form since the rumors first broke in January.
Costa’s statement does little to clarify the situation in which he and Chelsea find themselves. For months Chelsea has been strongly linked to several strikers to replace Costa. Costa’s presumably large transfer fee will fund these moves.
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So now three futures present themselves. The first is Costa does in fact move to Tianjin Quanjian for a large fee. Chelsea then turn around and use that money to purchase Romelu Lukaku or Alvaro Morata. This has been the expected move for months and still appears the most likely, even considering Costa’s recent statement.
The second possibility is that Costa decides to stay at Chelsea. This would surely curtail any move for Lukaku or Morata. Lukaku left Chelsea in the first place because he did not want to compete for minutes. He would be unlikely to put himself into that precise situation. Morata is likewise looking to be a starter at a club, not merely a second fiddle like he is at Real Madrid.
This situation could, however, benefit the other strikers at Chelsea more than any other potential future. Diego Costa, when on top form, is one of the best strikers in the world and likely to start every match. But Costa has no middle ground. When his form dips, he becomes a liability to the team. This could give the likes of Michy Batshuayi or Tammy Abraham the opportunity to push Costa out of the starting lineup.
Costa’s age would also help the other strikers as well. Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata are 23 and 24, respectively. Both, if they came to Chelsea, would be a barrier for any other strikers coming through for years to come. Costa, at 28, is still a barrier, but one with a much shorter shelf life. And if either Batshuayi or Abraham returned from a loan in two years, they would have an easier time displacing a 30-year-old Costa than a striker who is 25 or 26.
Option number three is that Costa still transfers, but goes to a team outside of China. Realistically, Atletico Madid is the only other option. He is loved there, and they would be more than happy to have him back at whatever age.
Atletico would not be willing to pay a fee nearly as large as that of China. But with Antione Griezmann rumored to be looking for a move, a swap deal could suit all parties. Diego Costa would be able to return to a club that loves him. Griezmann would be able to move to a new challenge. Both clubs could avoid losing out on a significant amount of money tied to transfer fees. Unlikely, yes, but a possibility if Costa refuses to move to China while still angling for a transfer.
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Regardless of what happens, Diego Costa’s comments have made his entire future much murkier for fans. The exact nature of what is going to happen will probably not be clear until he leaves or the transfer window closes. As of now, only Costa is aware to how this mystery will resolve.