The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Costa back as China move looks unlikely
Chelsea: Blues’ in-demand striker returns to training with first team
Diego Costa took a full part in training with the Chelsea first team yesterday as the likelihood of a move to China dwindled.
Press Association Sport understands Costa was involved as his Chelsea teammates returned following two days off after Saturday’s win at Leicester.
Head coach Antonio Conte said the 28-year-old striker was absent from that game with a back problem which saw him miss three days of training last week.
And Conte refused to publicly comment on reports of a disagreement with his top scorer, whose solitary training sessions were linked to his recuperation, Chelsea said.
Costa had been linked with a mega-money move to Tianjin Quanjian.
Chelsea and owner Roman Abramovich are determined to keep the Spain striker, who has scored 14 Premier League goals in 19 games this season.
And the Chinese Super League club’s billionaire owner Shu Yuhui yesterday said that Chelsea’s desire to keep the striker until the end of the season and the new limit on foreign imports to China, with three permitted in matchday squads, will scupper a deal.
The news may be a boost to Chelsea’s Premier League title hopes, but the subject of Costa’s future will not go away.
The Independent reported that Atletico Madrid, Costa’s former club, and Barcelona could try to sign the Brazil-born Spain striker this summer.
Costa signed a five-year deal on his arrival from Atletico in July 2014 for £32m.
The player this season admitted he had wanted to leave, before stating he was happy.
Chelsea, who have a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League, next play at home to Hull on Sunday.