Chelsea, for much of last season, were in the running for the Premier League title. However they fell short, with manager Jose Mourinho pointing his finger at his misfiring strikers.
Fernando Torres, Demba Ba, and Samuel Eto’o managed just 19 league goals combined last season, only five more than top scoring winger Eden Hazard.
It just isn’t good enough, and after a long wait the Blues have finally confirmed the capture of Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa... who scored 27 goals in La Liga all by himself.
Now expected to lead the line at Stamford Bridge, is Costa the missing piece to Mourinho’s title-winning side?
Here are FIVE REASONS to be excited about Chelsea signing Diego Costa.
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5. Obviously, Diego Costa scores goals
//www.youtube.com/embed/u42-Cth6CoE
Costa was brought into the squad by Mourinho to score goals. And he is extremely good at it.
The striker is capable of scoring in all kinds of positions, but is known for his movement to find space inside the box. Important games, domestic cups... Costa will find the net on a regular basis.
Watch Costa do what he does best in the video above.
4. He creates space for others
Not only will Costa score goals, but his presence will pull markers away from his team-mates.
Although Costa was Atletico’s main goal-scorer, the Madrid side had plenty around him that put in a few of their own. Raul Garcia and David Villa scored 17 and 15 respectively, and this is one of the main reasons Atletico went on to win the Spanish La Liga.
Now with a goal-scoring midfielder in Cesc Fabregas at Chelsea, expect the rest of the Blues to score much more than they did last season.
3. Costa can handle physicality of the Premier League
Unlike many players signed from Spain, Costa is a striker that plays to his physical strengths.
Teams like West Ham United and Stoke City are known for their tough defensive stance, and much more diminutive players struggle against the Premier League’s much more resilient sides.
However Costa can cope with their physicality, offering the presence that has been missing ever since Didier Drogba left the club back in 2012.
2. He is not yet in his prime
Although £32million sounds like a lot, it is nowhere near the amount for strikers in a now very inflated transfer market.
Luis Suarez – albeit all round a better player – only scored four more league goals than Costa but cost more than double the Spaniard, making Costa’s purchase extremely reasonable.
However what makes it even better is Costa’s age. At just 25 years old, Mourinho still has time to mould him into an even better striker... one that could finally replace Drogba and become the new star of the English Premier League.
1. Diego Costa will change the way Chelsea play
One of the main criticisms about Chelsea last season – apart from their lack of goals – is that the Blues were a very ‘reactive team’, not playing in their own style and forcing the issue on their opponents.
This would see Chelsea look extremely comfortable when playing the top sides, but tend to struggle against weaker opponents. But with Costa now leading the line, Chelsea finally have a striker capable of breaking down stubborn defences.
Mourinho is a coach that likes players to play a certain way, and Costa has been firmly on the ‘Special One’s transfer wish-list for some time. Now that he has captured his man, Premier League defences will be trembling in their shoes.