Costa out, 3 in: Conte needs to conduct this transfer business in the summer for Chelsea

Chelsea’s top scorer and his usual menacing self, Diego Costa has been dangerous this season, and the Chelsea supporting punters in the Tavern love him!

The striker has a presence and attitude on the field not shared by many in world football.

His own fans love him, opposition fans despise him.

The Spanish striker is passionate, aggressive, unpredictable, and quite frankly, mean. Yet this is exactly what any side with ambition cries out for.

With Atletico Madrid snooping around their former striker, and the fortunes of the Chinese Super League beckoning, Costa looks set to depart the Premier League in search of a fresh challenge, or to put it in Layman’s terms, a bumper pay day.

If Costa were to leave, Chelsea would need to find a man to replace him, yet the West London club still have other areas in which they must strengthen for another title challenge next time out.

Here we take a look at Costa’s potential replacement, as well as two other faces that Roman Abramovich must bring to Stamford Bridge next season.

Biting the bullet can be a humiliating process.

Manchester United set the tone with their reacquisition of Paul Pogba in an £89 million deal, a staggering 111 times the fee they let him depart Old Trafford for.

Ouch. United were mocked, but Chelsea may be set to continue the trend this summer.

Losing Romelu Lukaku to Everton in a £28 million deal in 2014 is going to cost Chelsea big. Not Pogba big, but big nonetheless.

The Belgian forward has been linked with a move away from the Toffees this summer, and his former club have been touted as the favourites to land the striker.

Everton have slapped a £100 million price tag on the head of their prized asset in an attempt to ward off interest from Chelsea and rivals Manchester United, but this does not seem to have killed the interest of the Stamford Bridge outfit.

Chelsea’s style this season has suited a big, powerful forward, and Conte will look to replace Costa with a similar player.

Lukaku possesses these assets and more, and will be sure to continue his fine form at his former club if a deal can be agreed.

Chelsea’s defeat at Old Trafford proved that they can often be found lacking defensively.

David Luiz can be found wanting at times, and Conte’s insistence upon a three man defence must be supported in the transfer market. Raphael Varane has often found his chances limited at Real Madrid, and a move away from the Bernabeu is not out of the question.

Chelsea were linked with the Frenchman last year, and now Manchester United are set to rival them for yet another signature, with Jose Mourinho confirming his interest in the player he signed for Madrid in 2011.

At the age of 23, Varane is not only young, but is very experienced after spells in the Real Madrid side and 35 French caps.

With John Terry set to leave the bridge and Gary Cahill not getting any younger, Varane would be an excellent addition to the Chelsea side.

If Chelsea are to see out the title race this season, Conte will look to come back even stronger in his second campaign, and Raphael Varane would be an excellent building block at the heart of the Blues defence.

N’Golo Kante has undoubtedly dominated the Chelsea midfield this year.

The signing from Leicester has continued his fantastic form in London, and has firmly established himself as one of the most consistent central midfielders on the planet.

However, Conte is looking for a partner for the dogged Frenchman, and compatriot Bakayoko has impressed for Monaco this season.

The French side have mounted an unlikely Champions League challenge, and lie on the verge of a semi final appearance. Bakayoko has often been at the heart of his side’s successes this season, and Europe’s top clubs have taken note. Once again

Chelsea are favourites to land his signature, and the Metro reported that a £32 million bidhas been made by Conte’s side.

Bakayoko is industrious, and alongside Kante, it is hard to imagine any side dominating against the Blues.

Bakayoko will sit in the middle, allowing Kante to work across the pitch, and the two together will allow Chelsea’s forward line complete freedom going forward. Bakayoko also comes with an added bonus, he scored the goal that knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League, proving his ability to find the net when his team need him the most.

An astute signing if it can be pulled off.