According to a multitude of reports emerging this evening, Diego Costa has been dropped from Chelsea’s matchday squad for their trip to Leicester City on Saturday evening.
While we normally shy away from breaking news based on rumour and gossip, when those stories surround a major Fantasy asset and build such momentum, they prove difficult to ignore.
Right now, there is little or no hope of having the reports confirmed prior to Saturday’s 11.30am deadline.
It is said that Chelsea are not willing to comment and, certainly, Antonio Conte did not allude to any such issues in his press conference, referring instead to “one or two situations” to assess prior to naming his line-up.
Arguably, Conte could have taken the opportunity to raise doubts had a fitness issue been a factor. Certainly, the reports suggest that Costa has not trained this week and yet the Chelsea boss did not mention this or raise any concerns on Costa’s availability.
Instead, it seems that these reports stem from a dispute between the player and club, emphasising that Costa has been “dropped” and citing a number of issues as the cause.
The Mail first broke the story at 6.07pm this evening, reporting a dispute with Chelsea’s fitness coaches.
Describe “a blazing row with Antonio Conte over his fitness”, the Mail went on to claim that the player felt he was struggling with a lower back problem, an opinion which the fitness coaches and Conte himself have apparently dismissed.
However, further reports have also highlighted another angle of possible dispute, namely recent interest from China, reportedly amounting to a staggering offer of £30 million-a-year for the player.
The upshot of tonight’s breaking stories offers Fantasy managers little but uncertainty.
Given the scale of the reporting, we should perhaps expect Costa’s absence but, until we hear from the club and Conte, we cannot be sure on the nature or severity of the issue.
However, with Chelsea facing Leicester in the evening kick-off, it is inevitable that Conte will be forced to comment should Costa be omitted from the squad.
His reaction and response to that questioning will be fascinating, with Costa’s 44.5% ownership hanging on each and every word.
In an already remarkable season, both in the Premier League and from a Fantasy perspective, this could prove to be the biggest twist yet.
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