Keeping Diego Costa at Chelsea Will Be Antonio Conte's Best Summer Business

It's been a busy week at Chelsea.

First came confirmation on Friday that Radamel Falcao and Alexandre Pato would not be having their loan moves made permanent. Then, over the weekend, Michy Batshuayi's transfer from Marseille was made official.

Completing a hat-trick for the strikers, Diego Costa has since outlined his intention to be a part of Antonio Conte's new regime in west London, per Matt Law of the Telegraph.

So far as the front men go, it's all been positive. Chelsea's new attack is beginning to take shape, and the club seems to have finally got the ball rolling with the regeneration of the squad—a key factor in moving on from the mistakes of 2015/16.

There's still much to do for Conte, though, and the fact that Italy are now out of Euro 2016 means we should start to see his influence at Chelsea grow.

For all he has to do between now and the start of the campaign, the manager's probably pulled off his best business this summer by convincing Costa that his future remains at Stamford Bridge.

The Spain international is the leader in Chelsea's attack, so it was vital he remained. He's been the club's leading goalscorer in his first two seasons, and outside of some controversies that have plagued him, there is little reason for Chelsea to be getting rid of Costa.

It wouldn't make sense, especially when Chelsea are rebuilding their team with a focus on youth. Losing a player of Costa's experience and capabilities would weaken Chelsea.

His price tag (£33 million, according to Law) may suggest otherwise, but Batshuayi's not the finished article yet. He's not joined the Blues to be Costa's replacement. He's a player signed more with the intention of complementing what the club already have.

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And what Chelsea already have is one of Europe's finest front men in Costa. He is to this Chelsea side now what Didier Drogba was in his pomp.

Indeed, it's interesting how Batshuayi was eager to discuss Drogba at his unveiling on Sunday. He stressed that he offers something different to the Chelsea legend, but joining the Blues from Marseille, it's inevitable that comparisons are going to be made.

"We are different people," Batshuayi told the official Chelsea website. "I totally respect the career Didier had at Chelsea and I am going to do my best [to enjoy similar success].

"[I want] to enjoy myself and give my maximum to help the team win matches."

For Batshuayi to achieve any of that, he needs a player like Costa alongside him. Not only to learn from but to take the flak at times and be the leader up front.

When we think about strikers in world football, there are few better than Costa at playing the villain. It may be detrimental to his own reputation, yet it takes the focus of others elsewhere. Defenders go out to target Costa, and he embraces it.

There can be times when it proves more a hindrance, although when Costa's firing, on form and scoring goals, it's equally inspiring.

We saw that last season. When Guus Hiddink came in on the back of Jose Mourinho's exit, the only thing that changed in Costa's persona was the goals he scored. The same antics and battle cries were there as before, but by scoring goals, the focus of pundits and fans moved elsewhere.

Costa was a nuisance from the first game right through the very end for Chelsea. And like in 2014/15, he finished the campaign by scoring goals.

What's important to remember about Costa is that he finds himself at a very similar stage of his career to Drogba after two seasons in England. Like Costa now, we were questioning whether or not Drogba would remain a Chelsea player. He had his issues with the authorities and in the media—notably a claim that Drogba was often guilty of simulation.

The sacking of Jose Mourinho in 2007 also threw up questions about whether the Ivorian would stay. When he was sent off in the UEFA Champions League final at the end of that season, it seemed like there was no way back for him.

Drogba seemed to desire a move back to Marseille, his former club. It's a line that has been repeated where Costa and Atletico Madrid are concerned.

Whatever went on at boardroom level in the summer of 2008, however, Chelsea resisted the urge to allow him to leave and instead utilised Drogba's ability to lead their attack.

That decision delivered a further three FA Cups, the Premier League in 2010 and also the Champions League two years later.

Drogba well and truly atoned for the mistakes in his past to become a statesman for the modern game. He's well respected wherever he travels because of the character he showed to transform himself and deliver Chelsea titles. Costa can repeat that.

He will have to go some way to cleaning up his act, but as a player, Costa has everything to prove he should be more highly regarded than he is.

In fact, on raw talent alone, Costa is better than Drogba ever was as he approached his 30s. He's better in possession and more adept when going past players. There's an argument to even suggest Costa's a better natural finisher.

What he lacks is the same sort of drive that put Drogba in a select group of players.

Costa will not be 28 until October. He is two years Drogba's junior when the striker found himself at a similar crossroads in his career before he transformed himself. Hiddink helped start the process, and it was an Italian, Carlo Ancelotti, who took Drogba to another level.

So here we are with Costa now on the back of his own six-month spell with Hiddink. He's reminded us of what he's capable of, and now another Italian is entering the fray.

What can Costa achieve under Conte? Everything. He can be Chelsea's leading man at a time when they need one more than ever. He can bridge the gap between his generation and the one coming through. He can score the goals that will win Chelsea titles again.

Of all the changes Conte must make at Stamford Bridge, Costa was never one. Chelsea are stronger with him than without.

 

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @garryhayes.