Antonio Conte to hold crunch talks with Chelsea striker Diego Costa in bid to convince him to stay with Alexandre Pato, Radamel Falcao and Loic Remy on way out
- Chelsea news: Click here for all the latest from Stamford Bridge
- Antonio Conte will take over at Chelsea after Euro 2016 this summer
- The Italian faces an uphill task to try to keep Diego Costa at Chelsea
- The striker is unhappy with how he is treated by officials and the FA
- Atletico Madrid are circling while Jorge Mendes is sounding out clubs
Antonio Conte will try to convince Diego Costa to stay at Chelsea with Alexandre Pato, Radamel Falcao and Loic Remy set to leave this summer.
Chelsea confirmed on Monday that Conte will take over after guiding Italy at Euro 2016 and the 46-year-old will hold talks with the striker, who could return to the club that sold him for £32million.
Costa is wanted by Atletico Madrid and is unhappy with how he is treated by officials and the Football Association as he currently serves his second three-game suspension this season.
Diego Costa could return to Atletico Madrid, who are the club that sold him to Chelsea for £32million in 2014
Conte, who will step down as Italy manager after Euro 2016, will try to convince Costa to stay at Chelsea
Jorge Mendes, the super-agent who represents Costa, is understood to have not been shy in sounding out top European clubs for his client.
Atletico have made no secret that they want to re-sign the 27-year-old and there are some behind the scenes at Chelsea who think Costa has made up his mind to leave.
Pato and Falcao are to be shown the exit at Stamford Bridge when their loan deals expire, with Chelsea not planning to keep either.
Remy, currently sidelined after suffering a groin injury during their 4-0 win at Aston Villa, is set to be sold during the summer too.
It means Conte will look to sign a centre forward - possibly two if he cannot convince Costa to stay.
Edinson Cavani, who is unsettled at Paris Saint-Germain, is an option while Gonzalo Higuain, of Napoli, is another contender, though they would be expensive.
Romelu Lukaku, the striker Chelsea sold to Everton for £28m in 2014, has emerged as another possibility.
Alexandre Pato scored his first goal for Chelsea against Aston Villa but is not set to stay beyond the summer
Radamel Falcao is another on-loan striker who is set to be shown the Stamford Bridge exit this summer
Remy (right) is currently sidelined after suffering a groin injury during their 4-0 win at Aston Villa
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