Chelsea Transfer News: Antonio Conte Talks Diego Costa, Latest on Santiago
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has cast doubt over the future of striker Diego Costa, having insisted he’s unsure whether the Spain international will be a Blues player by the end of the transfer window.
The Italian coach was speaking after he saw his side lose 3-2 to Real Madrid in a friendly match in Michigan on Saturday. As reported by Stephen Mills of Sky Sports, Conte was noncommittal when talk turned to the status of Costa, who has been linked with a move back to former club Atletico Madrid:
I can say that today Costa is a Chelsea player. He didn't play in these games because of injury and if he solves the injury and I see in training that he is in good shape it can be possible to see him in the next game against Milan.
But I can say only this. I speak only for today and today Costa is Chelsea's player. Tomorrow if you ask me if Costa will remain with us, I don't know.
TONY DING/Associated Press
Costa has been Chelsea’s main goalscoring threat since arriving at the football club in the summer of 2014, helping the Blues to the Premier League title and the League Cup in his first season. His aggressive style of play doesn’t endear him to neutral supporters, but the Stamford Bridge crowd has grown to love him.
So it’d be fascinating if he were to depart, especially given Chelsea aren’t flush with replacements. While Michy Batshuayi has joined the club, Loic Remy is unreliable in terms of fitness and not a totally dependable backup. Simon Johnson of the London Evening Standard has linked the Blues with a £60 million bid for former forward Romelu Lukaku.
Jon Super/Associated Press
Lukaku has been linked with a move to the Blues.
But at the moment, Costa is a much more effective striker than the Belgium international. As these numbers from WhoScored.com show, the 27-year-old is a huge threat in the final third:
Diego Costa: Only Sergio Agüero (50) and Harry Kane (46) have scored more goals in the last 2 Premier League seasons than Costa (32)
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) May 17, 2016
Conte doesn’t seem totally confident about keeping his man if these comments are anything to go by, although you’d anticipate he’d want a replacement lined up before relinquishing a proven source of goals.
A return to Atletico would surely appeal to Costa. However, given the Primera Division side landed Kevin Gameiro on Saturday, per BBC Sport, their objective of finding a striker to partner Antoine Griezmann may have been achieved.
Chelsea to Watch Santiago Arias
Julio Cortez/Associated Press
According to Alan Nixon of the Sun on Sunday, Chelsea have been keeping tabs on PSV Eindhoven full-back Santiago Arias.
It’s suggested the Blues have been monitoring the Colombia international and that they will watch him again when the Eredivisie begins before making an offer—PSV are set to begin their season against Utrecht on Saturday.
Arias, who can operate at left-back and right-back, has been one of the standout performers in division since moving to Eindhoven in 2013. Here is a look at the kind of quality he would bring to Stamford Bridge:
According to Sky Sports News HQ, Blues full-back Baba Rahman is set to depart the club on a season-long loan to Schalke 04, leaving Conte with Cesar Azpilicueta as the only proven left-back in the squad. Therefore, it’d be no surprise if they were interested in the 24-year-old.
He’s been a steady presence for PSV, and as noted by Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe, he turned in some handy displays at the summer’s Copa America:
Praise due for Santiago Arias, too. The US got no joy out of the left flank through either Wood or Pulisic because of him. #CopaAmerica
— Sam Tighe (@stighefootball) June 4, 2016
Arias would surely jump at the chance to join Chelsea, where he could potentially play a key part in Conte’s plans for next season. At PSV, he’s won the league title and has proved himself as a fine player, and the Blues would pose a fascinating new opportunity.
The full-back spots do look a little light at Stamford Bridge, so a player like Arias, who is so versatile, would be very useful in 2016-17.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has cast doubt over the future of striker Diego Costa, having insisted he’s unsure whether the Spain international will be a Blues player by the end of the transfer window.
The Italian coach was speaking after he saw his side lose 3-2 to Real Madrid in a friendly match in Michigan on Saturday. As reported by Stephen Mills of Sky Sports, Conte was noncommittal when talk turned to the status of Costa, who has been linked with a move back to former club Atletico Madrid:
I can say that today Costa is a Chelsea player. He didn't play in these games because of injury and if he solves the injury and I see in training that he is in good shape it can be possible to see him in the next game against Milan.
But I can say only this. I speak only for today and today Costa is Chelsea's player. Tomorrow if you ask me if Costa will remain with us, I don't know.
TONY DING/Associated Press
Costa has been Chelsea’s main goalscoring threat since arriving at the football club in the summer of 2014, helping the Blues to the Premier League title and the League Cup in his first season. His aggressive style of play doesn’t endear him to neutral supporters, but the Stamford Bridge crowd has grown to love him.
So it’d be fascinating if he were to depart, especially given Chelsea aren’t flush with replacements. While Michy Batshuayi has joined the club, Loic Remy is unreliable in terms of fitness and not a totally dependable backup. Simon Johnson of the London Evening Standard has linked the Blues with a £60 million bid for former forward Romelu Lukaku.
Jon Super/Associated Press
Lukaku has been linked with a move to the Blues.
But at the moment, Costa is a much more effective striker than the Belgium international. As these numbers from WhoScored.com show, the 27-year-old is a huge threat in the final third:
Diego Costa: Only Sergio Agüero (50) and Harry Kane (46) have scored more goals in the last 2 Premier League seasons than Costa (32)
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) May 17, 2016
Conte doesn’t seem totally confident about keeping his man if these comments are anything to go by, although you’d anticipate he’d want a replacement lined up before relinquishing a proven source of goals.
A return to Atletico would surely appeal to Costa. However, given the Primera Division side landed Kevin Gameiro on Saturday, per BBC Sport, their objective of finding a striker to partner Antoine Griezmann may have been achieved.
Chelsea to Watch Santiago Arias
Julio Cortez/Associated Press
According to Alan Nixon of the Sun on Sunday, Chelsea have been keeping tabs on PSV Eindhoven full-back Santiago Arias.
It’s suggested the Blues have been monitoring the Colombia international and that they will watch him again when the Eredivisie begins before making an offer—PSV are set to begin their season against Utrecht on Saturday.
Arias, who can operate at left-back and right-back, has been one of the standout performers in division since moving to Eindhoven in 2013. Here is a look at the kind of quality he would bring to Stamford Bridge:
According to Sky Sports News HQ, Blues full-back Baba Rahman is set to depart the club on a season-long loan to Schalke 04, leaving Conte with Cesar Azpilicueta as the only proven left-back in the squad. Therefore, it’d be no surprise if they were interested in the 24-year-old.
He’s been a steady presence for PSV, and as noted by Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe, he turned in some handy displays at the summer’s Copa America:
Praise due for Santiago Arias, too. The US got no joy out of the left flank through either Wood or Pulisic because of him. #CopaAmerica
— Sam Tighe (@stighefootball) June 4, 2016
Arias would surely jump at the chance to join Chelsea, where he could potentially play a key part in Conte’s plans for next season. At PSV, he’s won the league title and has proved himself as a fine player, and the Blues would pose a fascinating new opportunity.
The full-back spots do look a little light at Stamford Bridge, so a player like Arias, who is so versatile, would be very useful in 2016-17.
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