Monday 14 August 2017 12:19, UK
Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has called for a speedy resolution over Diego Costa’s future.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte reportedly texted Costa in June informing the striker he was not part of his future plans, and the striker has since remained in his native Brazil.
The 28-year-old's lawyer, Ricardo Cardoso, said last week his client intended to hand in a formal transfer request and is considering legal action against Chelsea in order to force through a move to former club Atletico Madrid.
Costa has since indicated he is prepared to remain in Brazil for an entire year without playing if needs be, and Hasselbaink says the time has come for everyone to draw a line under the matter.
"It's a difficult situation," Hasselbaink told Premier League Daily on Sky Sports News.
"Obviously he had a brilliant season last year [where he scored 20 league goals to help fire Chelsea to the Premier League title].
"Whatever the reasons are, Conte has made the decision that he wants to go in a different direction and that is his prerogative. The Costa problem does not help and there needs to be a solution ASAP because Chelsea need to move on."
Tony Cottee was also in the studio for Premier League Daily and the former England striker questioned Conte's handling of the Costa situation, adding Chelsea must replace the Brazil-born Spain international with someone who wants to play for the club.
"All these issues with Costa. He's sunbathing in Brazil. It's crazy," Cottee said.
"I think the mistake was the so-called text that he [Conte] has apparently sent to him. I think that is where the issue is. I know if I was Diego Costa and I received a text from my manager I would not be very happy about it.
"What's wrong with calling the player in and sitting down man-to-man and thrashing it out. If you want the player to move on, tell him to his face. It's obviously upset Costa, and Costa is now doing what he is doing, which is the normal process for players that are unhappy - they disappear and everything else.
"He's their best striker and he's on holiday in Brazil. Like Jimmy says, if he is not going to play just get rid of him. Sell him, get rid of him and move on.
"The bottom line is if you have an unhappy player at your football club you have to move them on. Do whatever you have got to do to move him on and get the money in and spend it on a player that wants to play."
Costa has his heart set on a return to Atletico Madrid and Sky Sports' Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says the current situation suits the Spanish club perfectly.
"It feels quite clear that he's got one plan. That plan is to go to Atletico Madrid," Balague said.
"Atletico have told him for a while to sit tight and that the longer you sit the cheaper you will be but I'm not sure that's something Chelsea will want to deal with.
"They say there's a price for him and Atletico are saying sit tight. He won't be able to play for Atletico until January because of the transfer ban so it's just a matter of it being a chess game."
