We are in the second tier though. If we can get back into the champions league for next season, maybe then we can start to try and match the ambitions of the likes of the aforementioned teams.

We are kidding ourselves if we think we are even close to them at the moment.

We are clearly not close to these teams at the moment, but if our ambition is limited to Lukaku we will not reach that top tier soon. At least we should show we are trying to get back there and for me personally buying Lukaku does not show any ambition to catch up with the top teams I mentioned

Edited July 31, 20169 yr by BadBlue

Should Conte hog-tie him, so he can stay?. If he wants to leave, he can f**k off.

Agree with you, we can't keep a player who wants to go as  this will impact his performance and his attitude might poison the dressing room.  I was only stating my preference on Costa staying rather than us buying Lukaku.

I still don't see any alternatives to Lukaku, just bashing. Strikers seem rare this transfer window. Would rather have Lukaku than Morata given he scores more and has experienced in the league already.

We are clearly not close to these teams at the moment, but if our ambition is limited to Lukaku we will not reach that top tier soon. At least we should show we are trying to get back there and for me personally buying Lukaku does not show any ambition to catch up with the top teams I mentioned

Which realistic target could we get to replace costs that would be a statement of intent that we are going to catch the top teams?

These players are not available, every proven top striker is already at top club, and would not leave a top champions league club for us at the moment, even for a few extra quid. That is the harsh reality of it at the moment.

If we sell Diego to Atletico maybe we can get Felipe Luis back :D

I'll echo the sentiments of others who have said 'sell any player who wants to play elsewhere'.

I just hope we get a decent amount for him. ie more than we paid for him.

I don't get these "I really hope we don't sell/keep hold of Costa" comments, if the player wants to leave he can s*d off to Bermuda or wherever, would drive him to the airport personally for free. Crazy world footballers live in, given amounts they earn and yet not one ounce of loyalty to their employers.

 

what about kante then? see, if you're shaming costa then it would hyprocritical not to do so on kante... on another note, ballack wanted to stay and even willing to take a paycut but club said no and off he gone.. 

Considering our position and striker market atm we should do everything possible to make him stay another year. Promise him he can leave next year, like Liverpool did with Suarez and Tottenham did with Modric.

Considering our position and striker market atm we should do everything possible to make him stay another year. Promise him he can leave next year, like Liverpool did with Suarez and Tottenham did with Modric.

We cant do that because atletico will most probably have a transfer ban next summer.

what about kante then? see, if you're shaming costa then it would hyprocritical not to do so on kante... on another note, ballack wanted to stay and even willing to take a paycut but club said no and off he gone..

Wrong. When Sky released odds for who wins the title next season, we are third favorites not Leicester. Despite our sh*tty season we are a bigger club and if like Kante, Costa chose Bayern, Barca or Real I would understand he's ambitious. No dig at Atletico (obviously any neutral's team in Spain) and despite their recent successes, they aren't in our class. To an extent I would even understand Utd, City or PSG.

I don't get these "I really hope we don't sell/keep hold of Costa" comments, if the player wants to leave he can s*d off to Bermuda or wherever, would drive him to the airport personally for free. Crazy world footballers live in, given amounts they earn and yet not one ounce of loyalty to their employers.

 

Loyalty works both ways though. Football clubs are just as bad as players.

Considering our position and striker market atm we should do everything possible to make him stay another year. Promise him he can leave next year, like Liverpool did with Suarez and Tottenham did with Modric.

Honestly a good suggestion but Modric is a model professional and we saw what Suarez did at the world cup to enforce a move. Given Costa's issues on the field, I hope we don't risk it.

Loyalty works both ways though. Football clubs are just as bad as players.

But not in this case, we have hardly wronged him quite the contrary.

Edited July 31, 20169 yr by summer is coming

If Conte plans on playing 2 strikers, I have to think Hazard will be playing as the creative, roaming one.  That means there's one spot for a true striker left.  Between Costa, Batman, and Remy we have three good options.  If Costa leaves, we could survive with Batman, but would probably lose some goals.  I don't want Costa to go, but it's not going to be the end of the world if he does.  Also, more than likely if he goes we will buy one of Morata or Lukaku, both of whom will add quality.  

The Conte comments last night are slightly worrying, having said that I won't be heartbroken if he does leave.

 

He's a very good striker and we will struggle to replace his quality as there is a shortage ATM but he is no Aguero.

 

The bottom line is if he really wants to leave, let him leave and get in a replacement quickly, even if it has to be Lukaku.

 

We can't afford to keep people who don't really want to be here and I certainly don't want this episode playing out for the whole transfer window.

 

The new season starts in 2 weeks time not on September 1st.

Edited July 31, 20169 yr by 2211

Really hard to replace a player like him. Almost impossible. He has his highs and lows and can be the most irritating thing to watch but at best he just delivers.

I hope he stays but if he wants to leave he should leave.

Wrong. When Sky released odds for who wins the title next season, we are third favorites not Leicester. Despite our sh*tty season we are a bigger club and if like Kante, Costa chose Bayern, Barca or Real I would understand he's ambitious. No dig at Atletico (obviously any neutral's team in Spain) and despite their recent successes, they aren't in our class. To an extent I would even understand Utd, City or PSG.

 

On kante, Leicester has something we don't though next season which is CL.. Their fans would argue that if kante is so ambitious, he would use CL to impress those so called bigger clubs you mentioned.. ok maybe he likes us or maybe he simply likes london but leicester fans have a case to feel hard done.. 

 

On Costa, this 1 is more clear cut case that you can not possibly have the right to question his loyalty based on your own fomula.. Atletico Madrid went to 2 CL finals in the last 3 years.. They certainly have better chances than us and speaking of domestic silverware, well they've been in top 3 for the last 5 years or so.. Not too mention both the club and costa are both spanish and Atletico madrid fans have more case to talk about loyalty seeing that's the 1 club costa pretty much came from and spent the most of his time there.. Compared to us, we're in pale comparison to them at the moment unless you wan to include history backdated to 10 years ago, surely you don't wanna sound like the dippers, do you?

We are clearly a bigger club with ba bigger draw than Leicester.... With or without CL

Why backdated 10 years, we won the league 1 year ago. The desperation by some fans to talk our club down at every opportunity amazes me, it's so bloody weird.

Really hard to replace a player like him. Almost impossible. He has his highs and lows and can be the most irritating thing to watch but at best he just delivers.

I hope he stays but if he wants to leave he should leave.

 

He might be a hard player to replace but I think the manager will do what is right, Costa should be sold for more than double what Chelsea paid for him and the funds respectively put forward into a possible replacement I'm not sold on Lukaku but he could prove me wrong If he returns I just don't I can't accept the fact that Lukaku could cost more to bring back in than Atletico getting Costa back to their damn club it makes no sense at all to me.

 

So with all that said yeah god I hope he does stay lol.

The only positive thing I see in Lukaku over Costa is that Lukako definitely wants to play for Chelsea, Costa is showing doubts. I don't see Atlético signing Costa this year, they've already signed Gameiro only yesterday for €32m, but what is Costa playing to? Does he want to go to PSG? The whole affair is weird, but I would back Conte with his choices.

Over weight last pre season, back ache this pre season, iv'e worked with a few like that.

The only positive thing I see in Lukaku over Costa is that Lukako definitely wants to play for Chelsea, Costa is showing doubts. I don't see Atlético signing Costa this year, they've already signed Gameiro only yesterday for €32m, but what is Costa playing to? Does he want to go to PSG? The whole affair is weird, but I would back Conte with his choices.

 

Correct me If I'm wrong but didn't Lukaku in the past show a lack of desire to fight his way into the first team for Chelsea?

I admit I think you're right with Costa his attitude you can't really make any sense out of him he's all rosy and happy when things are going Chelsea's way but as soon as we have one bad season he sulks and put on some absolute abysmal performances he only picked it up when Jose got the boot but you could say the same about other players.

If he goes to PSG sure fine give us Cavani in his place.

If ATM are buying him then get gimenez and if PSG are buying him then get marquinhos.

Diego Costa: Had a better conversion rate (22.2%) than any other player in the last 2 Premier League seasons (15+ goals)