Chelsea want Higuain as replacement for Diego Costa

With the Neapolitans standing firm on their talisman’s €94m release clause, their resolve it set to be tested by the Blues, who are seeking a Diego Costa replacement.

A return to Atletico Madrid for Diego Costa will reportedly see Chelsea replace the Spaniard with Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuain.

The Rojiblancos have been chasing a new striker for the season ahead, with

the Argentine himself strongly linked, but it appears that Diego Simeone will seek to return Costa to the Spanish capital, where he spent a number of years before moving to England.

According to AS, Antonio Conte’s side will offer the Partenopei a sizeable figure for Higuain, although it is unclear if they’ll meet his €94 million release clause or seek to negotiate a lower fee.

Costa’s move to Atletico is further down the line, but will only receive the green-light when Chelsea have secured a replacement, which will mean a further striking addition on top of Michy Batshuayi’s purchase on Sunday.

The Belgian youngster’s signing puts him into a strikeforce that looked increasingly threadbare during a disappointing 2015/16 campaign, where the Blues were reliant upon Costa and the likes of Loic Remy, with youngsters such as Patrick Bamford deemed unable to step-up as a viable replacement.