Diego Costa heading for Chelsea axe as club consider Gonzalo Higuain as replacement

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Chelsea are understood to be losing patience with Diego Costa, and are considering Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain as a potential replacement for the Spanish striker.

According to the Daily Mail, the club’s scouts have been ordered to begin looking around for potential replacements for Costa, who could have lost his place as the club’s first-choice striker by the beginning of next season.

It is understood that while Chelsea are planning to improve their offensive options during the January window, they are prepared to wait until the summer before making a big-money move to find a new forward who could lead the line in place of Costa.

The Brazil-born Spain international enjoyed a fantastic start to life as a Premier League forward last year when he first moved to Stamford Bridge from Atletico Madrid. Injury may have affected the second portion of his maiden EPL campaign with Chelsea, but the striker’s goals during the backend of 2014 were influential as Chelsea claimed the title.

However, this season, the 27-year-old has managed only two goals in 10 Premier League outings, and has been one of several under-performing stars during Chelsea’s miserable start to the campaign.

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Higuain, by contest, has bagged nine goals in 12 outings in the Italian top flight, helping Napoli force their way into the title picture in Serie A.

As recently as October, Fichajes [via the Mirror] reported that both Arsenal and Liverpool were set to go head to head to sign the Argentine hitman in January, and both clubs may up their efforts in light of Chelsea’s reported interest.

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