Chelsea reportedly rejected a world-record bid of €107 million (£90.3 million) for Diego Costa in the January transfer window from Chinese Super League outfit Tianjin Quanjin.
According to SFR Sport (h/t Aaron Flanagan of the Daily Mirror) the Blues’ decision to turn down the offer is what triggered the fallout between Costa and his manager Antonio Conte. The striker is said to have been offered a salary of £85 million over the course of a three-year contract.
Per Flanagan, the striker was left out of the squad for the 3-0 win at Leicester City in January after the incident, although the club suggested his absence was due to an injury.
More to follow…