Chelsea will struggle to replace 'fantastic' Diego Costa, insists Blues legend Frank Lampard
- Antonio Conte has told Diego Costa he is not part of his plans for next season
- Costa has been Chelsea's top scorer in each of the last three campaigns
- Chelsea are targeting Everton's Romelu Lukaku as a potential replacement
- The Blues have agreed a £35.2million fee for Monaco's Tiemoue Bakayoko
Chelsea will find it difficult to replace Diego Costa if the striker leaves in the current transfer window, club legend Frank Lampard has said.
Costa, 28, has been Chelsea's top scorer in all three seasons since joining the club in 2014, leading them to two Premier League titles.
Earlier this month, the Spain international said that he would leave Stamford Bridge after being told by manager Antonio Conte in a text that he was not a part of the club's future plans.
Diego Costa scored in Chelsea's 2-1 FA Cup final loss to Arsenal at Wembley in May
Frank Lampard believes that Chelsea will struggle to replace Costa should he leave
'He's a fantastic striker and we all saw that last season and since he's been at Chelsea. He would be very difficult to replace, there's no doubt about it,' Lampard told Sky Sports.
'He's an all-round physical presence that also has the quality to get goals, that's not easy to find in the modern day.'
Costa scored 22 times in 42 appearances for the London side last season but the club have been linked with a move for Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, who scored 26 goals last campaign, back to Stamford Bridge.
'He's (Lukaku) certainly developed to a huge degree since he left the club (in 2014), Romelu would certainly be a good option. The only thing Chelsea have to look at is the inflated market that is around now, it makes it very tough,' Lampard said.
Costa has said he would favour a return to former club Atletico Madrid but the Spanish side are unable to register new players until January 2018 due to a transfer ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Costa could well bow out from Stamford Bridge having won the Premier League title
Romelu Lukaku has expressed his desire to leave Everton and is keen on a Chelsea return
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