Trouble at Chelsea
> Costa may sabotage RM269m move to Atletico, as Conte isn’t keen on Drinkwater
DIEGO COSTA’S £49million move to Atletico Madrid has hit a potential snag - because the striker has still not returned to London.
The Spain striker’s lawyers were in Madrid yesterday along with Chelsea lawyers thrashing out a deal, and with the Spanish transfer window shutting an extra 24 hours later than the English, Atletico are still confident the transfer can be clinched.
But what could scupper the move is the fact that Costa owes Chelsea some £600,000 in fines for not returning for duty this summer – and the Stamford Bridge club want him to come back and pay up before a deal can go ahead. Costa was informed by Antonio Conte in June he wasn’t a part of his long-term plans.
Atletico Sporting Director Andrea Barta has rung Costa to try to persuade him to step on a plane today to smooth the way for the move.
Atletico are set to pay an initial £39m for the stay away striker, with £10m in add ons.
The two clubs were haggling over the details yesterday – as Chelsea prepared for what is certain to be a frantic final day of transfer dealing. The Blues seemed prepared to come down on the asking price, as they are desperate to get rid of the wantaway striker. However, Chelsea has been dealt with another blow as summer targer Spain striker Fernando Llorente has reportedly agreed deal to sign for Tottenham. But Chelsea star Eden Hazard warned Belgian international teammate Michy Batshauyi that he might as well quit Stamford Bridge if Llorente arrives. Hazard said: “Michy is now 23. If he wants to move forward, he has to play. “If we have Llorente, Morata and Michy, it will be difficult. “He was especially disappointed because he played a good preparation and counted on more. But we all know that you’ll be on the bench quickly when you’re not playing. “As a friend, I recommend him to find a solution to play. But we have to wait for Chelsea to decide on him. “A season like last year is not good for him and not for the national team. Because for Belgium he can be important.” Meanwhile Conte isn’t sold on the idea of signing Danny Drinkwater. That’s according to Daily Record journalist Duncan Castles.
He says Conte will be furious if Drinkwater is brought in as the replacement for Nemanja Matic who joined Manchester United earlier this summer.
Chelsea’s boss was expecting two replacements of similar quality but so far has only landed Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco.
And with Drinkwater still a target before the deadline, Castles says Conte will be disappointed if they can’t do better.
On The Transfer Window podcast, he explained: “I think there’s no way you can describe him as an equivalent to Nemanja (Matic).
“It’s classic Chelsea where they cash in on a player that another side wants and then they spend less on the replacement to bring in.
“He’s not the player Conte wants as a second midfielder.
“Conte’s position was that he would be happy to accept Matic being sold but he would want to get two replacements – Bakayoko which he got and a player of similar quality.
“Chelsea have allowed a key player to go to a rival where he could become a key player this season. Conte won’t be provided with the replacement he wants, which is what Chelsea are doing across the entirety of the team.” – Express Newspapers