According to reports in The Independent, Chelsea are demanding £44m for striker Diego Costa as they close in on the signing of Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata, who will cost an initial £58m according to The Telegraph.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Blues boss Antonio Conte told Costa that he wasn’t part of his plans for the upcoming season earlier this summer, and the Italian has been looking to bring in another striker ever since.

Having missed out to Manchester United for the signing of Romelu Lukaku, the Premier League holders turned their attentions to Morata and the club announced on their official website on Wednesday that they have reached an agreement with the La Liga giants.

Once the deal for the Spaniard goes through, The Independent says they will work out what they are going to do with Costa, who they value at £44m.

While his former club Atletico are interested, The Independent says the Spanish side only want to pay £25m and they also wouldn’t be able to complete a deal until their transfer ban is lifted in January.

It remains to be seen whether a compromise will be found, but the report adds that Diego Simeone has instructed the club to bring Costa back.

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Is Costa worth £44m?

In this day and age and with some of the transfer prices we have seen already this summer, he certainly is.

The 28-year-old scored 20 Premier League goals last term and was an influential figure as the Blues cruised to the title, and he has netted 52 times in 89 top flight appearances for the Blues since moving to Stamford Bridge from Atletico in 2014.

The Spaniard is able to score any type of goal while his hold-up play and the problems that he gives defenders mean that he is a proven danger at the highest level.

Will they get that much for him?

Once the Morata deal is over the line, Conte and Chelsea will step up their efforts to offload Costa ahead of the new season and while they will be hopeful that they can get £44m for the Spain international, an offer of around £30-35m from Atletico for a player they don’t want could be too good to turn down.

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