
Antonio
Conte will hold talks with Diego Costa at Chelsea's training ground on
Tuesday, according to Sky sources.
The Premier League's top scorer was left out of the squad for Saturday's win
at Leicester, officially with a back injury but against the backdrop of a
£30m-a-year offer from the Chinese Super League.
Tianjin Quanjian are the interested club, and sources say a row between the
striker and his manager in the week ended with Conte telling Costa to "go to
China".
It is understood Costa's representatives are now asking Chelsea to double
his wages to £300,000 despite the two-and-a-half years remaining on his
current contract, although one source insists he is happy at Stamford
Bridge.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will not consider selling the player this
month, according to sources, and talks between Costa and Conte will take
place at Cobham this week.
Costa, whose 14 league goals have helped Chelsea build a seven-point lead at
the top, posted an Instagram message ahead of weekend wishing his team-mates
good luck at Leicester.
The result went their way as wing-back Marcos Alonso scored twice before
Pedro, nominally Chelsea's striker on the day in Costa's absence, added a
third goal.
Conte said afterwards: "I think it's important to have another plan, to play
without a No 9 is another solution. It is important. To have a different
solution is important for me and for the team."