Chelsea door closed behind Diego Costa

Diego Costa’s Chelsea career is effectively over after Antonio Conte made it clear there will be no U-turn on the striker’s future as the Stamford Bridge club attempt to replace him with Alvaro Morata.

Diego Costa’s Chelsea career is effectively over after Antonio Conte made it clear there will be no U-turn on the striker’s future as the Stamford Bridge club attempt to replace him with Alvaro Morata.

And Chelsea are hoping to push through the signing of Tiemoue Bakayoko, despite it emerging that the midfielder’s £35 million move from Monaco has been held up by a knee injury after he underwent surgery at the end of last season.

Head coach Conte told Costa not to return for the start of pre-season training on Monday and does not plan to take him on pre-season tour to China and Singapore next week - even if a return to Atletico Madrid is not complete.

Chelsea were unaware of claims that Costa has remained on holiday in Brazil, but
they were supported by a picture of the 28-year-old on a beach that was posted by his brother Jair.

Conte told Costa he was not part of his plans by text message at the end of last season and the Italian is standing by his decision, despite Chelsea’s losing top target Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United.

The pair first fell out in January after Costa agitated for a big-money move to China and the player last week started saying his farewells to team-mates by telephone.

Chelsea remain in negotiations with Atletico over Costa, but also some distance apart in their valuations, with the Blues demanding nearly double the Spanish club’s first £26million bid.

Talks will continue this week with the aim of reaching a swift conclusion, but Conte has no desire to reintegrate Costa back into his squad if negotiations drag on.

Chelsea depart for their pre-season tour of China and Singapore next Monday, and Costa is not expected to be part of the travelling squad if he is still waiting on a move to Atletico to be concluded.

Atletico cannot register players until January because of their transfer embargo, so Costa would have to train at the La Liga club without playing in official games until that point.