Chelsea’s Diego Costa trains alone for second day amid China transfer reports
Spanish striker trains alone at the club’s training base as he recovers from an apparent back injury
Chelsea striker Diego Costa trained alone for the second day in a row on Monday at the club’s training base, British media reported, as he recovers from an apparent back injury.
The Spain forward’s Chelsea future was called into question after he was left out of the Premier League leaders’ win at champions Leicester on Saturday amid speculation he could be the subject of a colossal bid from a wealthy Chinese club.
Costa, who has scored 14 Premier League goals in 19 appearances this season, will have his fitness evaluated again ahead of Chelsea’s match at home to Hull on Sunday.
“If there is a problem – and I repeat ‘if’ – with the players then in my career I prefer to sort the problem in the changing room, not outside and not in a press conference,” said Conte on Saturday.
“But I repeat – if. I have told the truth.”
Shanghai SIPG last month broke the Asian transfer record when they paid Chelsea €60 million (HK$493.5m) for the Brazilian midfielder Oscar.