Chelsea will attempt to sign Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller after losing patience with Diego Costa, according to reports in today’s papers.
Costa, who Chelsea signed in 2014 from Atletico Madrid, was instrumental in helping the Blues win back the Premiership title before injury ended his season prematurely. He has failed to regain the form that he enjoyed for two-thirds of the 2014/15 campaign, admitting that he returned from pre-season overweight.
The Spain international was dropped for the 0-0 draw against Spurs on Sunday; Pedro, in Costa’s absence, did well in the striker position with a number of intelligent runs on and off the ball that created space for Hazard and Oscar to get in behind the home side’s defence.
Costa’s body language, as well as his not playing on the game, have led to speculation that he may well leave Stamford Bridge with Jose Mourinho tiring of his lack of form and disciplinary problems, and that the club will turn to the Bundesliga to find a replacement, namely Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller.
Muller, who scored against Chelsea in the 2012 Champions League final, was a target for both Chelsea and Manchester United in the summer. Chelsea lost interest after signing Pedro from Barcelona but the Red Devils kept up the ultimately failed pursuit after losing the chase to sign the Spaniard.
Bayern’s position was then, as it probably will be now, that Muller, who has spent his whole career at the Allianz Arena, is not the sale at any price, but Chelsea should take heart from continued reports that the Germany international is interested in a move to England and is flattered by the interest.