Diego Costa still wants Chelsea exit despite training comeback - but Spain return is more likely than China deal

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Goncalo Lopes18 January 2017

Diego Costa still wants to leave Chelsea despite returning to training yesterday.

The striker was dropped and banished from the first-team squad after a row with coach Antonio Conte last week.

The clash was sparked by Costa’s complaints over a back injury but came amid interest from China in the Spain international.

Standard Sport understands Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian were prepared to part with more than £80m for Costa and pay the Spain international in excess of £570,000-a-week to make the switch.

Yesterday, Tianjin Quanjian owner Shu Yuhui claimed he had made a bid for Costa, thought to be £80million, but that Chelsea had turned it down, saying the striker would not be allowed to leave until the summer.

Although Costa was reintegrated into the squad yesterday, it is understood that he still thinks his future lies elsewhere.

Tianjin Quanjian are closing in on a £35m deal for Fiorentina striker Nikola Kalinic.

The move for Kalinic would seem to indicate that Tianjin have abandoned their attempts to sign Costa in this transfer window.

That means Costa’s best hope of a move in the summer would be a return back to Spain.

Diego Costa's Chelsea controversies

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However, neither Atletico Madrid - who he fired to the 2013/14 La Liga title - nor city rivals Real Madrid would offer £80m for him.

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