Comparing China to us spending back in the day is crazy, offering 3/4/5 times the salary to the top leagues in the world is not comparable. 

If you are a top player who wants to be remembered don't join the tin pot Chinese league, the top European leagues are where you can stamp your name in history and win meaningful trophies.

Edited January 15, 20179 yr by Malcolm9

Regarding this Chinese phenomenon - may I make a prediction. I think it's only temporary.

If they want to build a competitive top league that is on a par with the Prem or other European leagues they will need hundreds of top players, but more importantly they will need players to be interested in playing there for something that's not just money. I think there has to be some intrinsic motivation/excitement for players to excel. They also have to feel at home and comfortable. Most of the best players are either European, African or Latin American. I can see how they like living in Europe, where many of their friends are, where they can speak English and where they can play for the biggest honours. This kind of socio-cultural environment needs decades if not more to create. The 'soft-power' that Europe has is something money can't buy.

When the Chinese will realise that it's a waste of money they will stop. 

1 hour ago, evissy said:

We can't complain if rich chinese come and steal our talent. We started the trend basically. We just need to offer something more to players other than money. Some players will stay some will go and life goes on.

If a player thinks he is hard done by on over 100k a well, living in London and having the life of luxury then good riddance to them. For me it shows a player for who they really are if they don't want to play in Europe and be competing in the best comps.

Also playing in a tin pot league doesn't guarantee your be called up for the euros or world cups.

I think this is an discussion where everyone is right.

1. Costa is one of the best strikers in the world and must be kept.

2. He's never going to get 300K a week from Chelsea.

3. If all he cares about is his paycheck then he is a bit of a c**t and should bugger off to China.

 

So where does that leaves us then?  We'll see come Tuesday I suppose.

 

 

 

At the beginning of the season he wanted to go to Atlético de Madrid. Now he wants to go to China. And he wants 300k a week from Chelsea. Was he expecting to get that at Atlético? No chance. So I just don't trust the media reports. If Conte says he picked up a back problem during training, why should I trust the journals over our manager.

Comparing China to us spending back in the day is crazy, offering 3/4/5 times the salary to the top leagues in the world is not comparable. 
If you are a top player who wants to be remembered don't join the tin pot Chinese league, the top European leagues are where you can stamp your name in history and win meaningful trophies.

Common denominator here is money. What we did was to pay over the odds. Se were already a top team I'll give you that but we made waves with Roman's money.

No one in the PL will pay Costa close to 300k no one in Europe will, and if money was really his motivation why did he want to go back to Athleti, they had him on 50 K a week, he is on 185k here, so I'm not sure about this money hungry story, if he was willing to take a third of his wages to go back to Athleti because he didnt like the food or whatever bollox or more likely he was just happier in Spain, why would that same guy f**k off his career to China in his prime for money? He is on 185k Haz is on 200k, get him on 200k and Haz on 225k and have it done, they are our only World class outfield players, the least we need is a good contract so if we sell we can replace them,  but again top of the league, CL next year in all likelihood, seems to get on great with conte from what we have actually seen, not heard, why would anyone leave now?

I really think it's an issue over not playing him because of an injury and Costa having a moan about it, maybe with an opportunistic Mendes using the China phenomenon and a minor dispute to get him more money, sold to Costa as "they should value you more". However if I am wrong and there is an offer from China for 80 million, well, considering Oscar got 60 or so, I'd say 100 and he is yours, I'd then bring in Griezmann in the summer, if we dont win teh leauge because of it so be it, al long as we get a Top 4, have 150 million or so from Costa and Oscar and bring top talent in teh SUmmer, I'm fine with it, club cant be held ransom, anyone that wants to go can get to f**k 

I remember Conte saying in pre-season season that if a player hasn't trained during the week then he won't consider them for the match day squad.

In my opinion the most likely story is Costa was off training injured (could even be that it was only a niggle and he was being a tad lazy and taking a day or two off when he didn't really need to) but come squad selection he wants to make him self available (lets face it Costa is the type of bloke that will want to play no matter what)
He tells the fitness staff that he is now fit enough to play the game and they say that he cant be selected as he hasn't trained, Costa sulks a little and maybe someone even says, if you want preferential star like treatment head to China but here you are part of the team and are treated as such.  

Non story for me, Costa will take it on the chin and be ready for Hull and the title push

Edited January 15, 20179 yr by PedroMendez

2 minutes ago, RMH said:

At the beginning of the season he wanted to go to Atlético de Madrid. Now he wants to go to China. And he wants 300k a week from Chelsea. Was he expecting to get that at Atlético? No chance. So I just don't trust the media reports. If Conte says he picked up a back problem during training, why should I trust the journals over our manager.

conte basically evaded the question and didn't deny the reported training ground row, he could've easily say nope didn't happen if it's indeed just media nonsense

now if that bust up was motivated by the china bid like the media said we don't know

if he misses next week's match and has gone awol two weeks in a row then, hit the panic button i guess

We fans, for the most part see things from a fans point of view. Most of the time money concerns around football are the cost of the match day experience, but our loyalty to our clubs is undeniable because we have chosen to follow our sides. It is our sport, our religion in the UK. 

We should consider that every player, every human being is different. Not everyone is a John Terry,who turned down mega bucks in China to stay one more year with us. Or an alan shearer, to whom playing for his boyhood team was more important than money or glory. 

Most of us, if any of us, actually know Diego. He may be a person who views it as a job first and a passion second. End of the day if we were offered to more than triple our yearly salaries for a nice easy job, most of us would take it. 

If that is the case and he goes then I would feel grateful for his time here, as he showed he is a top striker, and that the club made a large profit on his sale.

We moved on after Zola with drogba, after drogba with Costa. We can find another forward sooner or later. Who knows, his name may be Tammy Abraham

185k/w x 52 = 9,6m. Chinese club offers him 30m after taxes. That difference is massive.

To put in the fact Costa is 28 and a striker depending a lot on pace. He can play for 5 years and earn for 20.

England offers him the biggest stage but not a sunny place to live. He is used to live in sunshine. He is not learning the language so it is pretty much the same whether it is China or England.

Lot of factors here in play.

I really hope we can hold on to him at least till his contract runs out. We'd need Aguero, Lukaku, Zlatan to replace him.

8 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

We fans, for the most part see things from a fans point of view. Most of the time money concerns around football are the cost of the match day experience, but our loyalty to our clubs is undeniable because we have chosen to follow our sides. It is our sport, our religion in the UK. 

We should consider that every player, every human being is different. Not everyone is a John Terry,who turned down mega bucks in China to stay one more year with us. Or an alan shearer, to whom playing for his boyhood team was more important than money or glory. 

Most of us, if any of us, actually know Diego. He may be a person who views it as a job first and a passion second. End of the day if we were offered to more than triple our yearly salaries for a nice easy job, most of us would take it. 

If that is the case and he goes then I would feel grateful for his time here, as he showed he is a top striker, and that the club made a large profit on his sale.

We moved on after Zola with drogba, after drogba with Costa. We can find another forward sooner or later. Who knows, his name may be Tammy Abraham

You cannot compare his situation to ours, saying we'd do the same as him if somebody offered to triple our wages. I'll make a sweeping presumption, but probably a correct one here - all of us are on 'normal' (and varied) salaries. By that I mean we haven't already made enough money in our careers for us and our immediate families to live on for life.

In short he wants the extra money, but in reality almost certainly doesn't need it, that's the definition of greed isn't it? he's on what, £8m a year now? How much is enough?

You cannot just dismiss the notion of being unhappy in your job either, even for a footballer, when it's a massive part of your life. Word was last Summer part of the reason he wanted out of England was cultural/personal reasons and not being able to settle. Christ, what's he going to make of China then??

2 minutes ago, Blue Exile said:

You cannot compare his situation to ours, saying we'd do the same as him if somebody offered to triple our wages. I'll make a sweeping presumption, but probably a correct one here - all of us are on 'normal' (and varied) salaries. By that I mean we haven't already made enough money in our careers for us and our immediate families to live on for life.

In short he wants the extra money, but in reality almost certainly doesn't need it, that's the definition of greed isn't it? he's on what, £8m a year now? How much is enough?

You cannot just dismiss the notion of being unhappy in your job either, even for a footballer, when it's a massive part of your life. Word was last Summer part of the reason he wanted out of England was cultural/personal reasons and not being able to settle. Christ, what's he going to make of China then??

Totally agree, it can't be compared to the normal person on a normal wage. It's a ridicolous comparison.

Costa is already set up for life. Has how many years left to play in Europe at the top? At least 5. Then could probably play another 5 in China, USA etc.

If Costa wants to play in China now then fair play to him. But it's all for greed.

51 minutes ago, evissy said:

185k/w x 52 = 9,6m. Chinese club offers him 30m after taxes. That difference is massive.

To put in the fact Costa is 28 and a striker depending a lot on pace. He can play for 5 years and earn for 20.

England offers him the biggest stage but not a sunny place to live. He is used to live in sunshine. He is not learning the language so it is pretty much the same whether it is China or England.

Lot of factors here in play.

I really hope we can hold on to him at least till his contract runs out. We'd need Aguero, Lukaku, Zlatan to replace him.

 

zlatan who?

1 hour ago, PedroMendez said:

I remember Conte saying in pre-season season that if a player hasn't trained during the week then he won't consider them for the match day squad.

In my opinion the most likely story is Costa was off training injured (could even be that it was only a niggle and he was being a tad lazy and taking a day or two off when he didn't really need to) but come squad selection he wants to make him self available (lets face it Costa is the type of bloke that will want to play no matter what)
He tells the fitness staff that he is now fit enough to play the game and they say that he cant be selected as he hasn't trained, Costa sulks a little and maybe someone even says, if you want preferential star like treatment head to China but here you are part of the team and are treated as such.  

Non story for me, Costa will take it on the chin and be ready for Hull and the title push

is that the inside story? he has massive ego by the look of it.. remember when he talked back to conte on the pitch? he's basically saying to him: if you don't like it then sub me off!!

Right now, people can put up with his ego because he's performing but this kind of patience is always running of a thin line, could run out any time and when it does, expect a bust up that could create a dressing room unrest.. 

 

Diego costa is an important player but to say we won't be able to compete without him is exaggerating.. 

Has been brilliant this season, however his reps can f**k off if they are asking for £300,000 a week. He probably has 2-3 years left at the top and we should offer him £200,000 p/w at max. Maybe they might offer him around £230,000 but anymore is ridiculous. Hazard should be our top earner because imo he is a lot more crucial over the long run despite Costa's form and is younger. I would hate to lose Costa but reality is we can cope. The two times we been without him this season we won by 3-0. There are other options. That is just a worse case scenario of course if his reps hold us to ransom. Because what it's being reported they want is ridiculous.

Lets say Costa is on 185 and he wants 250 to stay we'd be paying him 3,5m more annually. If he keeps on banging goals like he has I'd say pay him.

We should just freeze all contract talk until end of season, it's just disrubting at this stage. In the summer give him a couple of offers close to or equal to Hazards wages, if he dosen't accept, then we sell for 80mil+ and have the whole summer to get a world class replacement.

it looks like Costa has  a health problem which he believes  and if he thinks he only has a couple of seasons left then why would he not take the oppertunaty

to get a big money move  Chelsea will keep him for till the end of the season then sell him  to china ths should be a compromise Costa will live with as its good for both parties

 

China cutting overseas players to three in the starting lineup as of March!

1 hour ago, STATS said:

Has been brilliant this season, however his reps can f**k off if they are asking for £300,000 a week. He probably has 2-3 years left at the top and we should offer him £200,000 p/w at max. Maybe they might offer him around £230,000 but anymore is ridiculous. Hazard should be our top earner because imo he is a lot more crucial over the long run despite Costa's form and is younger. I would hate to lose Costa but reality is we can cope. The two times we been without him this season we won by 3-0. There are other options. That is just a worse case scenario of course if his reps hold us to ransom. Because what it's being reported they want is ridiculous.

The man is an icon on the pitch but it's pretty clear that he is a disruptive influence who is liable to explode whenever wherever and I have thought for a while there was almost a truce between Conte who we know is far from a shrinking violet and Costa who has similar traits 

What goes on behind closed doors will decide what happens and whilst on balance I don't think he will leave in this window I suspect he will leave close season.

What has intrigued me now for a few weeks is that Lukaku was said, by his agent to have 99.9% agreed to a new contract yet here we are nothing signed and come the end of the season he is into the last 24 months of his contract and with it able to threaten invoking the Webster ruling as indeed will Costa.

Now I know 2+ 2 doesn't equal 6 but football at the highest level is a very small community and I can't help believe that any offer from China would be we'll know amongst managers, players and more importantly agents and armed with that knowledge any ambitious agent will be manoeuvring their client into a position where the are able to be in the box seat.

Negotiating ploy to drive up contract offer 

Rooney flirted with City got a pay hike. When Hughes managed city he fluttered his eyes at JT and he got a pay rise. 

The timing is appalling but that's modern football. If his agent calls RA's bluff it will get interesting.

Im hoping he's back training on Tuesday. Can probably deal with most teams with Hazard up top but not the top 4 rivals, Costa or another proven striker will be needed for Arse & Bin dippers 

 

Just a point I'd like to make on the accusations of greed levelled at Costa. It's important to remember Costa's origins, and the same should be said for Oscar as well. A lot of Brazilian footballers come from incredibly poor backgrounds - I'm sure you all have read/watched programmes about the favelas where many people live. Money means opportunity for these guys, and not just for them personally, but for their families as well. It wouldn't surprise me if there are several members of Costa's immediate and more extended family at least partly living off Costa's wages back home. Just imagine the impact that the wages on offer in China could have on their livelihoods? If the reports of the bid are true, then I can only imagine that Costa could be under a lot of pressure from various different members of his family, not to mention of course his agent, representatives etc. as well. 

If I was in Costa's shoes, ultimately I'd do what is best for my career, which would be to stay at Chelsea at least until the Summer and re-evaluate then. But at the same time, none of us know what Costa is thinking at the moment, and so it's important that we consider the wider context.

It goes without saying that I'd be really disappointed to lose him, especially at this point of the season. But I'm confident that Conte can get him back onside until the end of the season, just like he did in the Summer when a move back to Madrid looked to be on the cards. 

There's no reason to pull this in the middle of the season much less a title chase it just reeks of greed. Surely any raise he wants can be discussed in the summer or else he moves on and we buy another striker 

If we were to sell Costa, does anyone have any realistic suggestions as to who we could replace him with? We'd need someone who can equal his goal scoring tally and have the same impact on games. If im being honest i can't think of anyone we could get and reluctantly would give him enough money to satisfy him so that he stays however i have a few doubts hes going to reach any good form again this season.