Chelsea drops Costa amid rift, unsettling Chinese interest
Diego Costa's Chelsea career could be coming to a fiery abrupt end, in a setback to the English Premier League leaders' pursuit of the title.
The league top-scorer has not traveled with Chelsea to Leicester following a dispute with the coaching staff, and won't be playing in Saturday's game against the champions, a person familiar with the situation told The Association Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity on Friday because they were not authorized to discuss Costa being dropped from the team.
The discord between Antonio Conte's side and Costa follows the striker becoming aware of interest from China, the person said, referencing the country's wealthy and ambitious Super League.
The Daily Mail newspaper's website first reported on Friday that the dispute was over whether Costa was injured.
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported online that Costa is aware of a Chinese club willing to pay him more than $30 million a year, but Chelsea is determined to hold onto its most influential player. The Spain international, who joined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid in 2014, has 14 goals in the league this season and is under contract until 2019.
Costa has been a vital component in Chelsea's revival after the team went from champions to an 11thplace finish last season.
Chelsea has a five-point lead over Liverpool after its 13-match winning streak was ended by Tottenham in the team's last league game.
Chelsea has already sold two players — John Obi Mikel and Oscar — to Chinese Super League clubs in the last month. Chelsea made 60 million pounds ($73 million) just from Shanghai SIPG for Oscar. Despite the windfall, Conte said he hoped the club would not lose any more players to Chinese clubs, which spent more than $600 million on foreign players in 2016.
"The Chinese market is a danger for all," Conte said last month, "not only for Chelsea, but all the teams in the world."
Chelsea reveals cost of firing Mourinho, ending Adidas deal
Chelsea says firing Jose Mourinho the second time cost about 8 million pounds, and 67 million pounds was paid for the early termination of the Premier League team's Adidas sponsorship.
Mourinho, who now manages Manchester United, was dismissed by Chelsea during his third season back in charge in December 2015.
Chelsea's newly-published accounts reveal "termination payments and compensation" of 8.3 million pounds (then $13 million).
Mourinho previously managed Chelsea between 2004-07. Chelsea later said that it paid 23.1 million pounds to dismiss Mourinho and successor Avram Grant.
Most of Chelsea's "exceptional costs" last year covered the 67 million pound (then $97 million) payment to Adidas to allow the club to sign a new sponsorship with Nike worth more than $1 billion.
Man United says Lyon bid for Memphis Depay not reasonable
Manchester United has rejected a bid from Lyon for winger Memphis Depay, saying Friday it was "far from being reasonable."
The 22-year-old Depay has been unable to secure a regular spot in the team since joining United from PSV Eindhoven in June 2015 for 31
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"The offer that we had is far from being reasonable for us," Mourinho said. "So in this moment he is our player and if in the end of the month nothing happens he is one more option for us."
Both United and Lyon are pushing to break into the Champions League places in their respective domestic competitions. Lyon is fourth in its standings, five points behind Paris Saint-Germain, and determined to push through the deal for Depay.
"It takes time, discussions, because buying a player now isn't easy," Lyon coach Bruno Genesio said. "I have made Memphis Depay my priority. He is a powerful player, strong, who is capable of scoring and making goals and good at free kicks."
Guardiola: Kompany could return, Jesus transfer not complete
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany could return at Everton in the English Premier League on Sunday but Gabriel Jesus may Golf 11am GO Sports 1, PGA European Tour, BMW SA Open – Day 3 (live)
Tomorrow
Football 12.30pm, GO Sports 1, Italian Serie A, Cagliari-Genoa (live) 2.30pm, GO Sports 2, English Premier League, Everton-Man City (live) 3pm, GO Sports 1, Italian Serie A, Napoli-Pescara (live) 3pm, GO Sports 4, Italian Serie A, Udinese-Roma (live) 3pm, GO Sports 5, Italian Serie A, LazioAtalanta (live) have to wait for his debut.
Jesus, the Brazil striker signed from Palmeiras in the summer transfer window, officially joined City this month but his registration is yet to go through.
"When Palmeiras and the FA solve the problems he will be able to play," City manager Pep Guardiola said yesterday.
Most of the paperwork has been done and the club is hopeful it will be completed soon, meaning Jesus could be available to face Tottenham next weekend.
One player who is in contention to face Everton is Kompany, who has been declared fit after two months out with a knee injury.
"He has trained," Guardiola said. "The last two or three days he was a full part of the training sessions, so he is back."
The 30-year-old Kompany has not played a full match since April, and has been hampered by problems in recent seasons, with his latest injury being his 35th since joining City in 2008.
The Belgium defender could need a run of games to prove he has a long-term future at the club, which is fourth in the Premier League.
"Hopefully, he can play and be used for the second part of the season," Guardiola said.
Palace signs Schlupp
Crystal Palace has signed Jeffrey Schlupp from Leicester in Sam Allardyce's first signing since taking charge of the struggling English Premier League club last month.
The versatile Ghana international, a winger who also plays in defense, has signed a deal through June 2021 with Palace, which is one point and one place above the relegation zone.
The German-born Schlupp came through the Leicester youth ranks and helped the club secure a shock title success in May, but he's had limited appearances this season.
"He will bring strength and experience to the defense and will be a major asset for the club having just turned 24 years old," Allardyce said.
Schlupp is in contention to make his debut against West Ham on Saturday.
Allardyce has also turned to Sunderland, which he kept in the Premier League last season, to strengthen the Palace defense. 3pm, GO Sports 6, Italian Serie A, Sampdoria-Empoli (live) 3pm, GO Sports 7, Italian Serie A, Sassuolo-Palermo (live) 5pm, GO Sports 2, English Premier League, Man United-Liverpool (live) 8.45pm, GO Sports 2, Italian Serie A, Fiorentina-Juventus (live) Rugby 6.30pm, GO Sports 1, European Champions Cup round 5, Exeter ChiefsUlster Golf 11am GO Sports 3, PGA European Tour, BMW SA Open – Day 4 (live) Today Tottenham H.-West Brom Burnley-Southampton Hull C.-Bournemouth Sunderland-Stoke C. Swansea C.-Arsenal Watford-Middlesbrough West Ham U.-Crystal P. Leicester C.-Chelsea Tomorrow Everton-Man C. Man U.-Liverpool
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