Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has reportedly handed star striker Diego Costa an extra day off ahead of the Christmas period in an attempt to make the player more amenable to signing a new contract.
The Blues plan to begin talks about a new deal for their attacking talisman in the new year, and Conte hopes the extra time off will help foster smoother negotiations, according to Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph.
Law believes the feeling exists at Chelsea and Costa will sign a new deal, with the latest gesture only increasing the belief:
Conte has transformed Costa’s form and attitude to such an extent that the Spain international has already suggested to team-mates that he is ready to extend his Stamford Bridge deal.