DIEGO COSTA: A realistic view looking at both sides of the story.

With numerous reports surrounding Diego Costa falling out with Conte, being dropped and linked with a big money move to China, I wanted to take a look at both sides of the story.

Costa's reported lower back injury. 

News broke yesterday evening that Diego Costa has had a major bust-up with Antonio Conte in training at Cobham this week and he has been dropped from the first team that travelled to Leicester to take on the Champions tonight.

As the rumour mill swung into full effect as the evening moved on, it became clear that Costa had not trained for three days stating that he had a lower back problem which is linked to his history of hamstring problems. Further reports added that Chelsea's fitness coach and medical team had checked on Costa but they could find nothing wrong with him - hence the bust-up as the player claimed he was injured.

The Medical teams at Football clubs have become so advanced now in their treatment of player injuries that you do have to question Costa when reports state that there was nothing wrong. From Costa's point I view I guess he would only be too aware of a potential problem with his hamstrings having had so many problems with them, that he knows how his body operates but this is obviously a concern all round for both club and player especially if he has stated that he is unable to play.

Costa offered a reported £30m per year to move to China. 

Let's be honest here, if someone offered you or I the chance to triple our salaries by carrying on doing what you do on a daily basis then we would jump at the chance without question. To have the chance to earn that much for a sustained period of time would set us up financially to a point where you could bank the additional money for whatever future plans you have far quicker than any other option you have right now.

Costa is 28 years-old and has made no secret in the past of his struggles as a kid in Brazil playing football on the streets before he made his move to Europe. To be in a position to play there for the next two-three years earning a reported £576,000 per week would set both him and his family up for life. Let's also not forget that he could come back to Europe at the age of 30/31 and still have another two or three good seasons left in him.

It's a staggering amount of money and some coincidence that Super Agent Jorge Mendes is already in China talking with the club that wants to sign Costa.

Chelsea without Costa - the Premier League title race.

Greame Souness on SkySports last night has said that Chelsea could ill afford to lose Costa because without him we will not win the Premier League and I wondered how you feel about that?

I personally beg to differ despite the moment that Costa has popped up with a goal from nothing this season (Middlesborough/West Brom). No one player is bigger than any club and that's important to remember. What is also important is the squad you have with players waiting to come in and make their mark.

It looks as though Chelsea will adopt the false nine formation again this afternoon with Eden Hazard, Pedro and Willian interchanging positions within the framework of three playing up top so let's see what happens there.

Michy Batshuayi is waiting in the wings to make his mark and could the situation with Costa now fall into his hands and ultimately kick-start his Chelsea career? Another player worth noting is Tammy Abraham for next season.

We MUST trust in Roman Abramovich who has reportedly made it clear that he will not sell Costa but if the player forces a move, will have little choice. Plans would be afoot I can assure you of finding a replacement if it looks as though Costa will leave.

Diego Costa is and has been outstanding for us this season and we all love what he gives to our team. I would like to point out the fact that there were players before Costa and will be those after him.

Life goes on if he leaves and Chelsea maybe a little worse off without him but that would not last long.

Let's see what happens.

Carefree & KTBFFH