Diego Costa Reportedly Still Wanted by Chinese Club, Seeks £32m-a-Year Contract

Chelsea striker Diego Costa is reportedly "keen" to take Chinese Super League outfit Tianjin Quanjian up on their offer of a £32 million-per-year contract this summer. 

Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail wrote the Chinese suitors are willing to pay Costa an eye-watering £620,000 per week if he joins their cause, having missed out on a move for the Blues man during the January transfer window.

It's noted in the report that Costa's form in front of goal has dipped since rumours emerged in January linking him with a move to China, and Mokbel said the west Londoners are concerned his "head has been turned."

In fact, Nizaar Kinsella of Goal posted figures to prove the lucrative prospects thought to be on offer in China have in fact had a detrimental impact on the Spain international's goal return:

With no UEFA Champions League football at Stamford Bridge this season, winning the Premier League title under manager Antonio Conte may have been the key to convincing Costa his future lies in west London.

However, after Sunday's defeat left Chelsea just four points ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, the question may be asked as to whether the Blues will indeed have the league crown to offer as a bargaining tool.

Conte has former Marseille hotshot and Belgium international Michy Batshuayi among their ranks if Costa were to leave, but the team would need further reinforcements up front after the latter has struggled to feature.

It doesn't help Chelsea's plight to keep their frontman that, earlier this month, he was talking to Sky Sports (h/t Mirror's Jake Polden) and said he was hoping to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of last season:

"

Here [the Premier League] things happen on the pitch and who is banned for three matches? Me. Who was banned for another three matches again? Me.

[...]

It's supposed to be the best league in the world but it doesn't make sense that if you touch someone or go in a bit hard you get banned for three matches.

At the beginning of the season I was angling for a move back to Atletico Madrid because I felt like I couldn't play the way I wanted to.

"

If there's a chance Costa still holds any of that resentment toward England's top flight, Chelsea could face a fight in convincing the player to reject the opportunity to become the best-paid player in the world.

For more news, rumours and related stories about Diego Costa, Chelsea and the Premier League, check out the Premier League and Chelsea streams on Bleacher Report's app.