Why Diego Costa Is the 1 Player Chelsea Can’t Afford to Lose in the Summer

Diego Costa’s goal return since the departure of Jose Mourinho outlines just how vital the Spain international is to Chelsea.

Of the top five deadliest goalscorers in English football, only Harry Kane and Sergio Aguero have outscored the Stamford Bridge forward since Boxing Day.

The England international has 16 goals, with the Argentinian one ahead on 17 in all competitions. Costa sits third in the list of goalscorers with 11.

Those figures for the same period put him above Jamie Vardy, Romelu Lukaku and PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez, who complete the Premier League’s top five for goals scored over the course of 2015/16.

Had it not been for Chelsea’s woeful first half of the campaign, we should assume Costa would be right in there among the leaders, as he was last year. It’s for that reason alone that the Blues can’t afford to lose him this summer.

Antonio Conte has a big job to restore the fear factor at Stamford Bridge. Too often we’ve seen opponents face Chelsea without much concern and come away with their reward. Crystal Palace, Southampton, Liverpool, Bournemouth and Manchester City have all stepped into the lions’ den and realised the roar isn’t backed up by anything of substance.

Conte will want to add some mettle in midfield for his side to regain that physical and psychological edge. It’ll be …

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