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IT could be said that Chelsea are counting the Costa of a Stamford Bridge summer exodus.

Boss Antonio Conte has made it clear he is not happy with the strength and depth of his squad as he begins the defence of the Premier League title. And that is hardly surprising as since the end of last season there have been an astonishing 39 departures from Chelsea, who play Spurs at Wembley today. In fact, it is effectively 40, with Diego Costa (below) having gone AWOL after being told by Conte he was not in his plans. The Chelsea departure list consists of

13 players who have been sold or freed and 26 who have left on loan.

That gives credence to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s observation that Conte’s squad would not be so thin if fewer players had been allowed to go on loan. Many of the temporary transfers are designed to give young players more experience elsewhere, like the latest exit – midfielder Lewis Baker,

22, to Middlesbrough. But five have gone to fellow Premier League clubs and might have been useful to Conte now. They are striker Tammy Abraham, 19, centre-back Kurt Zouma, 22, and midfielders Izzy Brown, 20, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, 21, and Kasey Palmer, 20, who have gone to Swansea, Stoke, Brighton, Crystal Palace and Huddersfield respectively.

The most high-profile departures were freed club captain John Terry, 36, to Aston Villa and the

£40million sale of Nemanja Matic, 29, to rivals Man United. But eyebrows were raised at the £7m sale of midfelder Nathaniel Chalobah,

22, to Watford. PAUL HETHERINGTON