Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is reportedly "adamant" he will not sell star striker Diego Costa during the January transfer window, but the player is said to be set on an exit. Elsewhere, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is chasing a reunion with Nemanja Matic.

The Sunday Mirror's Steve Stammers reported Abramovich will take a stand against Chinese Super League interest in Costa because he's wary of setting a precedent of Premier League clubs selling to south-east Asia.

However, the matter is complicated by the fact Costa is said to be "hell-bent" on securing a move away, per Neil Ashton and Justin Allen of The Sun, with there being suggestions the striker "hates English football and hates the [Football Association]."

Costa missed Saturday's 3-0 win at Leicester City after complaining of a back injury on Tuesday, and manager Antonio Conte explained after the Foxes' win that is the truth, via the Guardian:

According to Ashton and Allen, Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian are prepared to offer Costa a salary of £30 million per year tax free—which equates to just under £577,000 per week—as well as a £5 million signing bonus.

Match of the Day pundit and former Premier League striker Ian Wright suggested there's more than meets the eye regarding Costa's drop out of Conte's team amid speculation the Spain international could more than triple his earnings in China, via BBC Sport:

Chelsea are hardly desperate for cash following Oscar's £60 million move to Shanghai SIPG earlier in the January transfer window, meaning Abramovich is within his rights to put his foot down and demand Costa remain in west London.

The former Atletico Madrid hitman has two-and-a-half years remaining on his Stamford Bridge contract.

Despite Conte's best efforts to deflect attention, ESPN FC's Liam Twomey feels the situation has soured between the parties:

Meanwhile, Steve Bates reported in the Sunday People (via the Mirror) that United boss Mourinho is keen to secure the services of Matic in the summer following Morgan Schneiderlin's £22 million move to Everton.

Michael Carrick's days as a United starter appear to be winding down, although Squawka's Greg Johnson pointed out that the Chelsea anchor is a different kind of player altogether:

However, Conte isn't likely to be open to the idea of selling Matic. The Serb has established a killer partnership alongside summer signing N'Golo Kante, helping the Blues reach the Premier League summit.

It also seems improbable Chelsea would sell such a key member of their side to a domestic rival, although few might have expected Juan Mata's 2014 switch to Old Trafford, so Matic is possibly in line to follow suit.