Chelsea Transfer News: Major Gonzalo Higuain, Diego Costa, Simone Zaza Rumours

Gonzalo Higuain is reportedly open to a move to Chelsea, but only if he will be their first-choice striker ahead of Diego Costa, who is the subject of interest from the Chinese Super League and former club Atletico Madrid.

That's according to Sami Mokbel of the MailOnline, who reported Higuain would not be put off making the £42 million move by the lack of UEFA Champions League football at Stamford Bridge next season, but he "wants assurances" he will be the main man up front.

Alternatively, Juventus will reportedly accept £20 million for forward Simone Zaza, according to Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Bruce Archer of the Express), and the Blues are among the clubs keeping tabs on him.

Zaza has had to compete with Paulo Dybala, Alvaro Morata and Mario Mandzukic for game time this season and has subsequently been limited to just 853 minutes and seven starts in all competitions, but he has accumulated a respectable eight goals and one assist in the time.

Massimo Pinca/Associated Press

However, he's not a player who could provide an upgrade on Costa; if Zaza is brought in, it should be to support him rather than replace him. Higuain is a different story, though, and he is good enough to warrant first-choice status at Stamford Bridge whether Costa is there or not.

The Argentinian has been in stunning form this season, netting 34 goals in all competitions—more than double Costa's 15, albeit the Spain international has 11 assists to Higuain's three. Higuain has been highly unfortunate to have just three, though, as according to Squawka, he has created 49 chances in Serie A alone.

Here are some of his many highlights this year:

Per sports journalist Vince Van Genechten, the Napoli star has bagged a number of vital goals this season, while journalist Paolo Bandini noted the kind of class he can be capable of even when failing to score:

Indeed, BT Sport's James Horncastle describes him as the "obvious" candidate to win Serie A's top individual gong this season:

Of course, many Blues fans would likely be happy to have both Higuain and Costa on the books, and that could work if incoming boss Antonio Conte opts to do away with Chelsea's longtime 4-2-3-1 formation and play two strikers.

Should he stick with one and bring Higuain in, Costa may well prefer to leave rather than be second choice.

If Costa remains Chelsea's No. 1, they'd do well to bring in a decent back-up, as Loic Remy, Radamel Falcao and Alexandre Pato haven't inspired much confidence, and Zaza could be a useful addition.