Diego Costa: I am happy at Chelsea, but not necessarily in London

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James Benge9 April 2017

Diego Costa insists he is “very happy” at Chelsea but seemed to suggest that he has still not settled in London.

The Spanish international has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge throughout his three years at the club and was the subject of an £80million offer from Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian in January.

Costa’s form has dramatically declined since Chelsea blocked that move to China – he has scored just three Premier League goals since January 22 – and speculation that 28-year-old could depart in the summer has not died down.

Those rumours will likely not ease after Costa’s comments after Saturday’s 3-1 win at Bournemouth, where he appeared to hint at being unsettled in the capital even during a season in which he has been a crucial part of Chelsea’s title challenge.

“I have another two years on my contract. I am always very honest with those close to me. I tell them that I am very happy at Chelsea,” he told SFR Sport.

“The club gives me a lot, the fans, the team-mates. I am in a team that is winning and that motivates me even more. Last season was not the best, not just for me but for other players and for Chelsea.

In Pictures | Bournemouth vs Chelsea | 08/04/17

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“This year I hope will be different, that we win titles. If you are in a team that is winning, you always want to stay for the allotted amount of time.

“I am happy at Chelsea, I am not necessarily saying that I am happy with my life in London, but that is something completely different. It has nothing to do with it.”

Despite his recent struggles Costa has scored 17 goals in 26 Premier League games for Chelsea this season and would not be easily replaced at Stamford Bridge.

However Chelsea are already considering a number of players who could compliment or replace Costa, including Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata.

Costa admitted last month that he did “everything” he could to engineer a move back to Atletico Madrid last summer. Whether he returns to Los Rojiblancos after the end of the season could depend on whether their current first-choice striker Antoine Griezmann remains at the club amid interest from a host of Europe’s top sides.

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