Chelsea Reportedly Rejected Record Offer for Diego Costa from Tianjin Quanjin

Chelsea reportedly rejected a world-record bid of €107 million (£90.3 million) for Diego Costa in the January transfer window from Chinese Super League outfit Tianjin Quanjin. 

According to SFR Sport (h/t Aaron Flanagan of the Daily Mirror) the Blues' decision to turn down the offer is what triggered the fallout between Costa and his manager Antonio Conte. The striker is said to have been offered a salary of £85 million over the course of a three-year contract.

Per Flanagan, the striker was left out of the squad for the 3-0 win at Leicester City in January after the incident, although the club suggested his absence was due to an injury.

According to the Daily Telegraph's Matt Law, following the dispute between Conte and Costa, it's likely that the forward will be moved on at the end of the Premier League season.

As things stand, both parties seem to have put their feelings on hold for the sake of the team. Chelsea have surged to the top of the Premier League table, and the striker has been leading the line with aggression and incision. 

As Sky Sports Statto noted after Costa found the net against Swansea City on Saturday in a 3-1 win, he's been consistent in front of goal since arriving in the Premier League in 2014 from Atletico Madrid:

The Chinese Super League has attracted some big names so far this season, including one of Costa's former Chelsea team-mates. Indeed, the Blues sold playmaker Oscar to Shanghai SIPG in the previous transfer window for a fee believed to be in the region of £60 million.

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Given the Brazilian was on the periphery of Conte's squad, it's understandable the Stamford Bridge side were happy to sanction a sale. But in the same breath, their unwillingness to cash in on Costa also makes sense, given just how crucial he is to the team.

After a difficult 2015-16 season, the Spain international has got his appetite for goals back once again, netting 16 times in 24 appearances in the Premier League.