Diego Costa's imminent transfer to Chelsea from Atletico Madrid surrounds the current strikers of Jose Mourinho's side with question marks over their futures.
The latest reports suggest Costa, La Liga's third top-goalscorer in the season just passed, has completed a medical ahead of a £32m deal struck between the capital city clubs. Brazilian-born Costa, both played and scored against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final stages and now looks set to be playing in blue after the club met his release clause. The completed deal is likely to officially announced before the start of the World Cup where Costa will star for Spain after pledging his national allegiance to the 2010 World Cup winners earlier in 2013.
Chelsea's pursuit of Diego Costa has been speculating for some-time and hasn't just came out of the blue (pardon the pun). Manager, Mourinho has especially critical of his strikers over the last campaign, notably commenting on various deficiencies like Samuel Eto'o's and made clear a new frontman was his priority for the current transfer window. His fairy godmother......father, Roman Abramovich has granted him this wish allowing the London club to open talks with Champions League finalists, Atletico.
So, Fernando Torres, Demba Ba, Samuel Eto'o (already leaving) and the returning Romelu Lukaku are most likely wondering whether they'll be in Mourinho's plans for next season. Despite Demba Ba showing he can find the back of the net when needed, for example in Chelsea's win at Anfield, he has failed to hold down a starting spot and like Costa's international team-mate Torres, have been far from prolific. Eto'o's contract soon expires and we've known for a while he wouldn't be staying after declarations of Mourinho's ill-confidence in him were made public.
Lukaku, for the moment, is a different story. Returning to the club after two consecutive & successive loan spells, firstly with West Brom & last season with Everton, the big Belgian has proved himself as a goalscorer within the English Premier League. Keeping Romelu at Chelsea would be a wise decision by Mourinho if he opted to do so, Lukaku still only 21 with proven ability to play at the highest level and may heavily boost Chelsea's chances of the title next season.
It still remains to be seen however, if Lukaku will want to be second-fiddle to Costa, likely to be benched ahead of the Spaniard. Based on his form for the La Liga winners, Diego Costa will surely be the focal striker for the former Porto boss, Mourinho. Potentially, Lukaku and Costa could forge the most formidable forwards in the Premier League in the 2014-15 season, yet the style of Chelsea's play with attacking midfielders like Eden Hazard, Oscar & Willian will leave only one spot for striker will be available.
Following the release of Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard etc. the Blues seem to be balancing the books and adhere to the Financial Fair Play regulations set by UEFA, the offloading of misfiring Torres and Co. shall aid Mourinho's plans if they go ahead with the rumoured attempts to sign another Spanish international and former Arsenal midfielder, Cesc Fabregas which Barcelona are commanding £30m for.
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