Diego Costa has made it clear that his future is away from Chelsea after revealing Antonio Conte told him he was free to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
Chelsea now have a job on their hands as they go about replacing the iconic Spaniard, who has led the line for the past three seasons.
Costa still brings a lot to the table, so finding someone to fill his place is going to be anything but easy. We take a look at the options the club have.
Romelu Lukaku – The obvious choice
Ever since joining the club first time around, Lukaku has been dubbed as the heir to Didier Drogba’s thrown at Stamford Bridge. Comparisons are easy to make in the modern game, but this is easy to see why.
The Belgian resembles the Ivorian in his game, he is strong, powerful on the ball and knows how to find the back of the net.
Drogba himself also endured a tough first season at Stamford Bridge, admittedly he didn’t leave the club, but the similarities are there. From the minute Lukaku missed the spot kick in the UEFA Super Cup, he set himself wrongs to put right at Chelsea and it’s been no secret that he has always wanted to succeed at this club in particular.
It’s a rarity that in the modern age of football that a player gets a move to his dream club and is adamant to be a success there, not many top European clubs have boast that.
Many fans have voiced their concern because Lukaku is, in some people’s eyes, not at the level Costa is currently, he is also four years younger. Lukaku is not the finished product and Chelsea would be buying his potential, which explains the raised valuation from Everton, with a rumoured deal thought to be worth around £80 million.
Lukaku has only scored 16 fewer league goals than Costa throughout his entire career. His potential arrival would give Conte the chance to mould him into the striker he desires at Stamford Bridge.
Alvaro Morata – The unlikely arrival
The Spanish striker appears to be yet again on his way out of Real Madrid after failing to hold down a regular place in the first-team squad this season under Zinedine Zidane.
His return to the Spanish capital can still be considered a success, in 26 league games he has chipped in with 15 league goals. Not a bad return for a second-choice striker.
Morata is a clinical finisher, a threat inside the box and a well-rounded striker, it’s easy to see why there is interest in him.
The problem Chelsea have here is Manchester United, who, if reports are to be believed have stolen the march in the race to sign the forward as the Blues look elsewhere.
Conte has made it very clear in the past about his desire to work with Morata again after playing an influential part in him signing for Juventus.
Whilst Morata would likely be the cheaper option, it looks as if the player is Manchester bound if he does make a summer move to the Premier League.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – The ambitious choice
It’s surprising to see the lack of Premier League names linked with the Borussia Dortmund striker this summer, despite it appearing to be glaringly obvious that he is set to quit the Bundesliga club this summer.
Aubameyang finished the German campaign as the league’s top goalscorer and has proved throughout the season that he can find the net in all sorts of ways.
#ThatMomentWhen A goal is well worth a RT Pierre Emerick Aubameyang .What a goal ? pic.twitter.com/jwrlS56o8m
— Skills in Heels (@Boxofficefooty) May 20, 2017
Paris Saint-Germain look the most likely option for Aubameyang this summer with reports of a deal between the two parties thought to be in the advanced stages.
Are Chelsea, and other Premier League sides making a mistake in not at least trying to sign the Gabonese international?
At the age of 27, he is coming into his peak years and off the back of a campaign where he scored 31 league goals in 32 league appearances, his confidence will be soaring.
Questions will be raised about the quality of the Bundesliga, but the German top flight is a competitive one, despite Bayern’s dominance. In what has been a very difficult season on and off the pitch for Dortmund, the striker has flourished with his best goals return in his career.
Andrea Belotti – The risk
The Torino striker has lit up Serie A this season with 26 league goals in Italy, by far his most impressive goals return of his career.
Belotti has showcased his ability throughout the campaign, scoring all sorts of goals. His form has not gone unnoticed with Manchester United and Chelsea previously being linked with a move for the player.
AC Milan have also been touted as a future destination for Belotti and the resurgent Italians now appear the most likely destination for Belotti.
The striker has a €100 million release clause to foreign clubs in his current deal with Torino, opening the door for Milan to secure his signature for considerably less.
This goal from Andrea Belotti against Udinese ?? pic.twitter.com/ANrpvSUzso
— Cobham Blues (@cobhamblues) April 2, 2017
Belotti, at just 23 years of age holds the stature of someone much older. He is physically imposing and can more than hold his own against defenders inside the penalty box.
The risk for Chelsea is not only his price and age but the 26 league goals he has scored this year, in what is only his second season in Serie A, is by far higher than any of his previous campaigns.
At AlbinoLeffe and Palermo, 12 league goals was his highest tally and whilst Conte would undoubtedly love to work with the Italian, it could be seen as a huge risk to bring him to the Premier League.
