I think we need to change our attacking play to where we create many simple chances for our striker to score, rather then try finding a new Drogba, or put all our hopes on one player. Costa would be a good start, but not for £50mil though. I think we need to spend a good ammount for a great LB as well, who has pace/stamina to give us width and options in attack. This would also allow us to move Azpilicueta to RB, wich is his prefered position and where he has managed to get one assist in each of his last two games.  Another area that needs some more creativity is central midfield, atleast with all the teams that likes to "park the bus". Luiz, Matic and Ramires are all good workers off the ball, but they struggle to find good solutions when there is little space. A player like Modric/Gundogan would do wonders I think with speeding up our attacking play and providing us with more options going forward. This would most likely mean we would have to sell either Luiz or Ramires, who I feel won't be a big loss.

 

Yeah if someone offers big money for Ramires I don't see the club turning it down.  Need a world-class passer there.

Edited April 15, 201412 yr by Ramigoal7

After widespread outrage about Chelsea's Courtois clause, which would have seen Atletico paying a huge 'fine' should he play against his parent club, UEFA came out and said that no such part of a contract was enforceable.

Following that, Atletico said they if they had agreed to such a thing then UEFA's will wouldn't matter because they would keep to the agreement as gentlemen do. That left it that Atletico were looking into what they'd signed for and if they had indeed put pen to pen paper on the clause, or even verbally agreed it, then they wouldn't be playing the Belgian goalkeeper against Chelsea in the Champions League unless the Premier League club agreed that they could do. Keeping up?

There's been a new twist. El Confidencial report on Tuesday that Chelsea will allow Courtois to play to smooth over relations with Atletico ahead of a Diego Costa move this summer, which the newspaper say is all wrapped up. Chelsea are set to pay the Spanish international's buyout clause but cooperation from Atletico will only help them in their quest and therefore a little charm won't go amiss. The amount of Costa's buyout clause has risen in less than a year from €25m to €38m (or €30m if you believe others) to €60m, it's likely the media aren't 100% sure how much it actually is.

Atletico could still try to make things difficult for Chelsea if the clause is met, whatever that may be, but they want to keep Courtois for a further season so peace has broken out.

Costa's star is still rising in Spain and when he injured his knee at the weekend, there were worries from fans of the national team about the World Cup. However, it was merely a flesh wound, a very painful looking one.

His teammate Diego Ribas at Atletico has was quoted by AS yesterday as saying "Diego Costa is now the strongest striker in the world," which is quite some claim but that's what Jose Mourinho wanted and he may just get it.

The player's manager Diego Simeone (lot of Diegos at Atletico!) thinks Costa should be up for the Balon d'Or next year which just underlines how good he's been so far this season. It's not hard to argue that he's the best out and out striker in world football right now.

http://www.elconfidencial.com/deportes/futbol/2014-04-15/el-acuerdo-entre-mourinho-y-diego-costa-facilita-que-courtois-juegue-ante-el-chelsea_116912/

http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/chelsea-wrap-up-deal-for-best-striker-in-the-world-through-money-

So is Costa definitely joining Chelsea next season?

 

But please if we are paying up 50million pounds we can have Cavani!

Diego Costa is a priority signing for #Monaco, report France Football. Already signed Falcao from Atletico Madrid last summer. #ASM

10:06am - 15 Apr 14

Edited April 15, 201412 yr by Ethan789blues

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892/transfer-zone/2014/04/15/4753882/chelsea-interest-in-diego-costa-is-no-surprise-simeone?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Diego Costa is a priority signing for #Monaco, report France Football. Already signed Falcao from Atletico Madrid last summer. #ASM

10:06am - 15 Apr 14

 

If UEFA are serious about FFP then Monaco have no chance of getting him.

Seems that Deigo Simeone has conceded defeat and admits that he has no control over whether or not Costa joins us in the summer.

 

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9266935/transfer-news-atletico-madrid-boss-diego-simeone-admits-he-could-lose-diego-costa

 

This story refuses to die, suggests it has legs.

Sounds like an offer and a deal has been discussed already

I could be wrong but i think the deal is done already. Its just a matter of time till its confirmed.

If we get this guy and Luke Shaw in the summer I'll be a very happy man.

Edited April 15, 201412 yr by Huttsey

I think we will miss out on Shaw. I cant see Southampton selling him cheap and I cant see us offering the kind of money that has been talked it will take to buy him.

I think he will end up at United.

I think we'll get Luke shaw for a decent price if Ryan Bertrand goes the other way.

I could be wrong but i think the deal is done already. Its just a matter of time till its confirmed.

Probably after the CL Semi tie.

Yeah that was what I was thinking. :p
What if we do a Bayern?

Edited April 15, 201412 yr by CFCBlue12

Yeah that was what I was thinking. :p

What if we do a Bayern?

 

Just Costa wouldn't do if we did a Bayern, need to take Koke as well :)

I haven't seem him scoring a single powerful shot goal or a goal out side the box or even wide.

I haven't seem him scoring a single powerful shot goal or a goal out side the box or even wide.

And?

I haven't seem him scoring a single powerful shot goal or a goal out side the box or even wide.

 

So what? 

I haven't seem him scoring a single powerful shot goal or a goal out side the box or even wide.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVxOAT_k1OY

 

 

even if he didnt, why does it matter? was ruud van nistelroy a poor striker then?

Edited April 15, 201412 yr by Lane

Ok time for me to lower the tone and be superficial....... my god he will lower our "whoar" rating.  He just won't fit into the boyband lineup of Dave, Oscar, Eden and MvG!

 

Luckily we'll still have Jose to compensate.

Ok time for me to lower the tone and be superficial....... my god he will lower our "whoar" rating. He just won't fit into the boyband lineup of Dave, Oscar, Eden and MvG!

Luckily we'll still have Jose to compensate.

Torres not your cup of tea then

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/transfers-chelsea-confident-diego-costa-3416537

Jose Mourinho is confident Chelsea have tied up a stunning £50million deal for Diego Costa.

Atletico Madrid striker Costa is poised to agree a contract worth £185,000-a-week to move to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Atletico boss Diego Simeone has even admitted they cannot stand in the 25-year-old’s way – and confirmed that Mourinho's Blues are in for his star forward.

Simeone said of Costa: “It will depend on him and what he thinks is best for his future. I will support any decision he makes.

“It’s natural that Chelsea are interested in him and that makes me happy, because my aim and that of my coaching staff is to see our players improve.

“We understand that Chelsea have huge financial power and if he wants to live off football for the rest of his life, I will have no problem in him going.

“It was like Radamel Falcao - how could I tell him not to go to Monaco [last summer]? He gave life to this club [during his time at Atletico].”

Simeone's words do throw up another amazing sub-plot for Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final against Atletico, which begins next Tuesday.

Costa is set to play despite being left with a gaping wound in his leg after colliding with a goalpost in Sunday’s league win over Getafe.

Flesh wound! Costa's grisly injury won't stop him facing Chelsea

Chelsea have already held lengthy discussions with Atletico over on-loan Blues keeper Thibaut Courtois, who will face his parent club in the semi after UEFA’s intervention last week.

Belgium keeper Courtois originally had a £5m clause in his loan deal which Atletico would have to pay if they wanted to play him against Chelsea, but the clubs are now believed to have come to an arrangement.

The stunning Costa deal has been brokered by agent Jorge Mendes, and Atletico will have to pay a big chunk of the £50m fee to a third-party company.

Chelsea want Courtois back for next season after three years on loan at Atletico - Mourinho wants him to compete with Petr Cech to be first choice as Chelsea plan a major shake-up.

Heir we go: Courtois (left) is expected to challenge Cech next season

The west Londoners will also offload their current strike-force.

Italy's Inter Milan are keen on Fernando Torres, although Simeone has also admitted that Atletico could be interested in taking back the 30-year-old - who began his career with them before joining Liverpool in 2007 - as part of the Costa deal.

“Fernando is always with us [in spirit], obviously I have sent messages to him,” said the ex-Argentina midfielder. “He is very happy with everything that is happening to this team and he is always present, wishing us luck.

“Of course he would love to come back to the club he grew up in and where he was happy.”

As well as moving Torres on, Chelsea will sell Demba Ba, Romelu Lukaku is heading for the exit after spending the past two seasons on loan at West Brom and Everton respectively and Samuel Eto’o wants out when his contract expires in the summer.

Chelsea also maintain interest in Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain and Paris Saint-Germain pair Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Torres not your cup of tea then

TBH the boyband ones aren't either - too young!  But I can appreciate they're good looking - as is Torres I guess (but, no, not my taste).  

 

But Jose............different league!

The Evening Standard were reporting that an agreement has been reached as well.