Former Chelsea defender Scott Minto believes that Diego Costa will help his old side to win the Premier League title for the first time since 2010 this season.

The Spanish international cost the Blues £32m and has joined the club from Atletico Madrid with the billing of being the missing link in Jose Mourinho’s Stamford Bridge XI following his 30+ goal haul last term.

Although they came close to a league and European cup double earlier this year, ‘The Special One’ was often frustrated with his squad, aiming much of his criticism at his crop of strikers.

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None of Demba Ba, Fernando Torres or Samuel Eto’o topped the side’s scoring charts – Eden Hazard found the back of the net with the most regularity – and Costa’s pre-season eye for goal has created a sense of optimism in west London.

Minto – a former Chelsea player and Sky Sports’ presenter for their coverage of Spanish football – believes that his old club will claim the top prize this season thanks to their “street fighter” striker:

“You look back at last season and probably the reason why they didn’t win it is because they didn’t have a striker. Costa is the final piece of the jigsaw, maybe along with Cesc Fabregas as well,” he told talkSPORT.

“If he can score the goals, which he has been doing in pre-season, there is every chance of Chelsea winning the title.

“He is a street fighter.

“He can do it all. He can bully defenders, but he can also have that special deft touch that can assist or maybe finish for a goal.

“Chelsea, under Jose Mourinho, are so strong at the minute that even if they have a few injuries they can ride it and I think it is their title to lose.”

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