Chelsea news LIVE updates: Everton made £65m Diego Costa bid, January move for Alex Sandro

Chelsea news live updates: Follow here for the latest news and gossip from Stamford Bridge

Monday 25 September

Conte: Hazard could feature against Atletico

16:00: Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has the club's long-term interests in mind with his cautious approach towards selecting Eden Hazard as they prepare for Wednesday's Champions League game against Atletico Madrid.

After making his first start of the season in the League Cup last week, the Belgium international was again named as a substitute for Chelsea's 4-0 Premier League win over Stoke on Saturday as he continues to recover from a fractured ankle.

"I think now Eden is improving a lot and for sure he's in contention for Atletico Madrid," Conte told reporters. After a bad injury and surgery you need time. He's almost ready to play but if I make this decision it will be because I'm comfortable with it.

"I think we are managing him very well. Other players are also very important for us and now it's important to be sure he's ready."

Fabregas on Costa

15:00: Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas says he will miss Diego Costa with the striker set to join Atletico Madrid in the New Year.

“He will always be in my heart,” Fabregas replied when asked about Costa on Onda Cero.

“He’s a great guy, I spoke to him on Saturday when he was watching (Atletico’s) game – we enjoyed a spectacular connection both on and off the pitch.

“He is a great friend of mine and we spent three memorable years together in London, winning a lot and enjoying success. Right now he is very happy, obviously it’s been tough for him with the uncertainty of recent months but this is the best not just for Diego but for Chelsea.

“They (Chelsea and Costa) had a good working relationship so it was important it ended well for both. I’m sure Diego will enjoy lots more success with Atletico and will score plenty of goals.”

Conte misses Italy

13.00: Antonio Conte admits he misses Italy and wants to return before too long.

Conte signed a new deal at Chelsea this summer but didn’t extend his contract, and he admits he does’t want to work abroad forever.

Conte, speaking to Radio Anch’io Sport in Italy, said: "I have a longing for Italy, that’s beyond any doubt.

"It’s not in my head to stay abroad for too long. It’s good to have beautiful experiences, but I intend to go back to Italy one day. China? No, absolutely not. Bundesliga? It’s always difficult to predict the future. Let’s just say that a coach is a temporary worker.

"It depends on the results, but there’s desire on my part to try to do the best I can, finishing one project and then finding the right one to continue. I miss Italy, that’s a fact.

"Still, this experience is helping me so much. I’d also like to become a sporting director in the future. Are we better than the English? There are practically no English managers in the Premier League.

"There are so many parts of the world here, but everyone here is good, prepared and among the best in the world."

Conte's mistake

09:10: Antonio Conte made a huge mistake in the Diego Costa saga, according to Guillem Balague.

Chelsea have agreed to sell Costa to Atletico Madrid after he went AWOL this summer.

Conte text Costa to tell him he could find a new club at the beginning of the summer and Balague believes that gave Chelsea little leverage when negotiating his sale.

He told Sky Sports: "It was a huge mistake on Antonio Conte's part to send a text to Costa saying he was not wanted, because he weakened the position of Chelsea.

"Chelsea wanted 70m euros, Atletico says, they got 55m plus 10m. It is still a big fee, one Atletico has never paid. But he shouldn't have sent it. I'm pretty sure if you're a director at Chelsea you'd wish he hadn't too.

"It gave the wishes of Costa a big push, because he could always say: 'look, they don't want me'. That's why he felt he didn't need to go back to train or play with the reserves, or anything like that. It played completely into his hands.

"But Chelsea more or less got what they wanted for him, once Conte decided he didn't want to keep."

Everton made Costa bid

8:00: Everton made a stunning £65m bid for Diego Costa as the transfer window closed.

Costa is poised to complete a move to Atletico Madrid after Chelsea agreed a fee to sell the striker.

But he can only be registered to play in January.

And Everton tried their luck with a late bid as they searched for a Romelu Lukaku replacement, according to Marca.

The Toffees have struggled without Lukaku and dropped into the bottom three last week before beating Bournemouth on Saturday.

Ronald Koeman failed to replace Lukaku like for like and wanted Costa to help his attack.

Alex Sandro still on the radar

07:20: Chelsea will go back in for Juventus ace Alex Sandro in January.

The Blues tried to get the fullback this summer but were unable to convince Juve to sell.

But transfer market web claim Chelsea, and Manchester City, will make moves when the transfer window re-opens.

However it is claimed Juve will reject all approaches in January and hang on to him until next summer.

Sandro was keen on a move to Chelsea and the Blues were ready to make him the most expensive defender in the world but still failed to push through a deal.

Conte challenges Morata

07:00: Antonio Conte has challenged Alvaro Morata to become an elite striker.

Morata netted a hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Stoke on Saturday.

And he now has six goals in five six Premier League games.

And Conte wants him to keep going.

"Don't forget his previous experience,” he said.

"He didn't play a lot with Juventus and Real Madrid but now he has a great chance to show that he is a really good striker, a fantastic striker.

"He's very young, only 24 years, and I think this is important for Chelsea.

"I think now he's involved totally in our style of football, in our idea. He's very strong and he showed he's a really good, complete player.

"He adapted very well to this league but now he has to continue to work and improve because he's only starting."

Courtois misses Costa

06:45: Thibaut Courtois admits he will miss Diego Costa and insists he was underrated in the Premier League.

Costa finally sealed his move to Atletico Madrid last week after a summer of controversy.

The Blues signed Alvaro Morata to replace him after missing out on Romelu Lukaku and Courtois is pleased with his contribution so far.

“Diego was an under-rated striker here in England," he said. “People paid too much attention to him being a little bully on the field rather than looking at his quality.

“He is one of the nicest, funniest guys I know. He is also a top striker, so I am happy that until New Year we will not have to face him.

“He was always a nice guy in the dressing room and I have known him for six years.

“But we have bought a new striker and he is doing well so we have to move on. As a friend I will miss Diego, and a player, but Alvaro is doing his job so we are happy.

“A striker lives off goals and he has already scored a few important ones.”