Chelsea are reportedly set to consider selling striker Diego Costa amid rumours of a £71m offer from China this summer.
The Spaniard is understood to be seeking a summer exit, as reported by The Express, with former club Atletico Madrid interested in taking him back to the Spanish capital.
However, Chelsea will likely assess their options, and much will of course depend on Antonio Conte’s plans for the squad given that the Italy boss was confirmed as their next head coach after the conclusion of Euro 2016.
If the Italian tactician believes that Costa will have an important role to play for him as of next season, then it is more than likely that the club will dismiss all offers.
In contrast, if there is a sense that Chelsea could reinvest and target players better suited to Conte’s style, then the reigning Premier League champions may weight things up and decide that a sale is the best strategy moving forward.
It will certainly help if rumours of a mega offer from China are true, as suggested by The Express, as that will undoubtedly give them more flexibility in reinvesting in the squad and signing maybe one or two top players.
With Chinese Super League clubs splashing out this year on the likes of Alex Teixeira and Jackson Martinez, it is becoming an attractive proposition for players in Europe for reasons both on and off the pitch.
From the financial aspect given that these clubs can offer significant salaries, to the improving competitiveness and infrastructure of the league as a whole, it will likely continue to appeal to players at various stages of their career.
Whether or not it is something that would interest Costa remains to be seen, but with early suggestions that Conte would prefer to keep hold of the 27-year-old, it appears as though his journey at Stamford Bridge could yet continue even though Chelsea face a difficult decision if these rumours are true.