With Chelsea still blue from their embarrassing battering at the hands of Burnley on Saturday, it's no surprise to learn from Talksport that the relegation-threatened Londoners "want to hijack Liverpool’s move for Virgil van Dijk".
How do they intend to carry out their audacious heist? By tabling a £50m bid for the Southampton captain that they hope will prove too good to turn down.
The Holland international handed in a transfer request last week after a summer of discontent on the south coast and, according to Talksport, the Saints are likely to listen to offers having realised the situation with van Dijk has become intolerable.
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Liverpool have long been linked with the Dutch defender but Talksport claims that Blues boss Antonio Conte "now hopes to make his move this week". The three goals conceded by his team against Burnley so alarmed the Italian that he's ready to outbid the reds for van Dijk in the coming fortnight.
The latest instalment in the increasingly fractious fallout between Chelsea and Diego Costa comes courtesy of Sky Sports with the broadcaster reporting that the sulky Spanish sharpshooter has been docked two weeks' wages (around £300,000) for failing to return to pre-season training with the club last month.
But will the fine it have the desired effect and force Costa back to the Bridge just days after he threatened to stay in Brazil for the next 12 months? Yes, says Sky Sports, with the broadcaster claiming that Chelsea are expecting Costa to arrive in London this week and see out the last 12 months of his contract.
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