Chelsea Transfer News LIVE updates: Costa statement, Sandro snubbed, Van Dijk latest

Chelsea Transfer News LIVE updates: Latest on Alex Sandro, Virgil van Dijk, Diego Costa and more

Thursday August 17

Costa must respect Chelsea

22.55: Diego Costa must first show respect to Chelsea before engineering a move to Atletico Madrid, according to Gabi.

"From what I know, Atletico Madrid want to sign him and he wants to join," Gabi said.

"But of course, there is Chelsea in the middle.

"When you are part of a club you must respect the badge and try and leave in the best way."

Loftus-Cheek sees future at Chelsea

15:00: Ruben Loftus-Cheek says he is glad he left Chelsea to join Crystal Palace on a season-long loan but sees his future at Stamford Bridge.

When asked whether he sees a future at Chelsea, Loftus-Cheek replied: "Yeah, definitely. 

"Chelsea are my club, I support them. Right now I'm fully committed to Palace and whatever happens, who knows? 

"I could have gone earlier and who knows what could have happened? I didn't and decided to stay. I'm getting older and now was the time to leave."

Ujfalusi wants Costa deal 

12:47: Diego Costa’s former team-mate at Atletico Madrid, Thomas Ujfalusi, has backed the Chelsea striker to return to Spain.

“I believe he could play six months elsewhere and return to the club in January,” Ujfalusi told Spanish newspaper AS.

“I’m hoping that he does join, Costa was a spectacular striker when I played with him.

“Of course, Costa is a warrior who always leaves everything on the pitch. He is strong, quick and scores a lot of goals.

“He scored more than 50 times playing for Chelsea in a very tough competition like the Premier League.

“Together with (Antoine) Griezmann they could be one of the best strike partnerships in Europe.”

Costa 'unprofessional'

11:19: Manchester United legend Bryan Robson says Diego Costa’s behaviour is wrong.

“What I’ve got to say straight off is that it’s so unprofessional,” Robson said on talkSPORT.

“If you’re a player and you have a contract and have signed with that football club you have got to honour that contract.

“You signed it, you’re getting paid really well. The club have had great success. It’s totally down to the player.

“He should be much more professional and should come back and honour his contract.

“If Chelsea want to keep him that’s what he has to do.”

Costa an 'embarrassment'

10:55: Diego Costa is an embarrassment to football following his statement this morning (09:14), claims former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino.

“Sometimes you get embarrassed to be an ex-player,” Cascarino said.

“Players will be embarrassed to listen and read about Diego Costa.

“This guy totally thinks he can do what he wants. Hopefully Chelsea dg their heels in over Diego Costa.

“That’s fine if his contract is up but you’ve two years to run (on the deal). You’ve a duty to stay and play for the football club.

“Diego gives food to those who criticise footballers. He’s embarrassed every footballer.

“He’s at the stage where he’s telling Chelsea how much he thinks he’s worth, which is wrong.”

Costa releases statement via hometown club

09:14: Diego Costa has confirmed he will head to Spain to try and forces through a move to Atletico Madrid.

"My destination is already set,” Costa said, via his boyhood club Sportivo Sergipe.

“I must return to Atletico Madrid next season. It turns out that there is the impasse that Chelsea does not want to release me.

“But I believe that this situation will be resolved now on my return to Spain.”

Costa faces fine

07:52: Chelsea could sue Diego Costa over his refusal to turn up to work.

Chelsea want to sell Costa and have told him he is not part of Antonio Conte’s plans for the season.

The striker has remained in his native Brazil and is yet to return to training in west London.

And the Telegraph claim Chelsea could take legal action over the forward’s behaviour if it continues.

Chelsea have already fined the former Atletico Madrid star £300,000 for his absence.

Sandro latest rebuff

00.10: Chelsea have seen their latest bid to sign Alex Sandro from Juventus rejected with Antonio Conte growing even more frustrated.

That's according to Calciomercato who claim Chelsea offered a deal worth £73million with £62m up front but Juventus rebuffed the deal.

Chelsea already had two bids rejected from Juventus earlier in the summer.

Max Allegri has made it clear Juventus will not let the wing-back leave and he has 'no chance' of moving to Stamford Bridge.

Insane to doubt Chelsea

Paul Ince insists everybody needs to calm down about Chelsea's start to the season.

A 3-2 defeat to Burnley had alarm bells ringing at Stamford Bridge with Antonio Conte cutting a frustrated figure in recent weeks regarding the transfer window.

But Ince can't understand the reigning Premier League champions being ruled out for the title after just one game.

“You would’ve expected Chelsea to beat Burnley, of course you would,” he said.

“But it’s absolutely insane to start doubting them or jumping down Antonio Conte’s throat because of one loss.

“To seriously rule them – the champions – out because of that honestly winds me up.

Conte wants Perisic

Antonio Conte has added Ivan Perisic to his ever-growing list of players he is targeting to sign at Chelsea.

That's according to The Times who claim Conte is desperate to strengthen his options in the wide areas.

And Perisic, who has been a target for Manchester United all summer, is among the players being targeted by Conte.

The Chelsea boss is reportedly at loggerheads with the club's hierarchy over their transfer activity this summer.