This is what Chelsea’s fearsome front three could look like come the end of January

Diego Costa

Should Diego Costa and manager Conte settle their differences, which it looks like they will, then the Spanish international will continue to lead the line for Chelsea this season.

And, based on his first 19 league games of the campaign, he’s going to cause problems for many a Premier League defence.

The 28-year-old is the joint top-scorer in the top-flight this season alongside Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez with 14 goals (although his minutes per goal ratio is better than the Chilean’s), and Costa has also laid on five assists thus far – only Nemanja Matic has more in the Blues squad.

Clearly, the striker is hugely important to Chelsea, and Blues fans will hope that everything that’s happened over the past few days can be resolved quickly to get Costa back on the pitch and amongst the goals.

Keeping him fit, and indeed happy, with be crucial to Chelsea’s title challenge in the second half of the season.