Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Diego Costa’s Contract

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has reportedly handed star striker Diego Costa an extra day off ahead of the Christmas period in an attempt to make the player more amenable to signing a new contract.

The Blues plan to begin talks about a new deal for their attacking talisman in the new year, and Conte hopes the extra time off will help foster smoother negotiations, according to Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph.

Law believes the feeling exists at Chelsea and Costa will sign a new deal, with the latest gesture only increasing the belief:

Conte has transformed Costa’s form and attitude to such an extent that the Spain international has already suggested to team-mates that he is ready to extend his Stamford Bridge deal.

Talks over a new contract worth £200,000-a-week will start in the New Year and Conte’s latest piece of man-management will only help negotiations run smoothly.

Giving Costa an extended rest is Conte’s latest ploy to reward his table-topping team for its recent superb winning run. The Blues lead the Premier League by six points after winning 11 in a row, an achievement Conte felt merited special treatment, per Law:

Conte rewarded his players for their 11-game winning streak with three days off after the Crystal Palace game and the freedom to fly anywhere in the world ahead of Chelsea’s Christmas schedule.

Costa …

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