Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Diego Costa's Contract

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has reportedly handed star striker Diego Costa an extra day off ahead of the Christmas period in an attempt to make the player more amenable to signing a new contract.

The Blues plan to begin talks about a new deal for their attacking talisman in the new year, and Conte hopes the extra time off will help foster smoother negotiations, according to Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph.

Law believes the feeling exists at Chelsea that Costa will sign a new deal, with the latest gesture only increasing the belief:

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Conte has transformed Costa’s form and attitude to such an extent that the Spain international has already suggested to team-mates that he is ready to extend his Stamford Bridge deal.

Talks over a new contract worth £200,000-a-week will start in the New Year and Conte’s latest piece of man-management will only help negotiations run smoothly.

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Giving Costa an extended rest is Conte's latest ploy to reward his table-topping team for its recent superb winning run. The Blues lead the Premier League by six points after winning 11 in a row, an achievement Conte felt merited special treatment, per Law:

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Conte rewarded his players for their 11-game winning streak with three days off after the Crystal Palace game and the freedom to fly anywhere in the world ahead of Chelsea’s Christmas schedule.

Costa travelled to Brazil and was granted a fourth day off so he could enjoy more time with family and friends before flying back to London, while his team-mates returned to training at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

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Keeping Costa happy is essential to the success of Chelsea's season. It hasn't always been easy to ensure the most gifted yet also the most temperamental striker in England's top flight stays settled.

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Conte himself has even appeared to irk an attacker who doesn't need much motivation to become perturbed. Back in October, before Chelsea embarked on their relentless winning, Costa became annoyed with Conte's animated management style from the touchline, per the Daily Mirror's Darren Lewis.

The incident sparked a telling off for Costa from Chelsea's new regime. It wasn't the first time he's appeared unsettled at the west London club.

Law also noted how Costa had coveted a return to Spain, where he once fired Atletico Madrid to a Liga title in 2014. However, the 28-year-old now looks motivated and in peak form this season.

Costa has already hit 13 goals and supplied five assists in the league, according to WhoScored.com. Those contributions have made Conte's Chelsea feared, particularly on the break.

Opponents know no matter how well they play, how long they keep the Blues quiet, Costa is only one chance away from settling a match. His threat forces teams to play passive and not commit too many forward, lest they be caught on the counter and not have the numbers to prevent the ball from getting to Costa.

The striker is one of many players who have thrived since Conte reverted to his preferred 3-4-3 formation. It's the same setup he once used to help Juventus dominate Serie A.

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Ironically, those Juve teams were dominant in midfield thanks to Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba. Yet Conte's Juve were routinely let down by their lack of an elite centre-forward.

By contrast, Chelsea will thrive or struggle based on how long Costa stays fit, suspension-free and scoring. There aren't any other strikers who can do what he can.

In particular, summer import Michy Batshuayi has been a major disappointment. However, Conte will reject any loan offers for the Belgian during the January transfer window, and Costa is also suspended for Boxing Day's game against Bournemouth, per Gary Stonehouse of the Sun.

Whether Batshuayi stays or not, Chelsea need Costa and must do everything to keep him at the Bridge beyond this season. It makes sense for Conte to do what he can to stay on the striker's good side.