Wantaway striker Diego Costa will be hard to replace at Chelsea, says club great Frank Lampard

Premier League champions will find it difficult to replace influential striker if he departs in the current transfer window, Lampard says

Reading Time:1 minute

Diego Costa said earlier this month that he would leave Stamford Bridge after being told by manager Antonio Conte that he was not a part of the club’s future plans. Photo: EPA

Published: 4:29pm, 25 Jun 2017Updated: 4:29pm, 25 Jun 2017

Premier League champions Chelsea will find it difficult to replace influential striker Diego Costa if he departs 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 league title wins.

Earlier this month, the Spain international said that he would leave Stamford Bridge after being told by manager Antonio Conte that he was not a part of the club’s future plans.

“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.

Frank Lampard believes his old club will struggle to replace the quality of Costa if he leaves, Photo: AP

“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 goals in 42 appearances for the London side last season but the club have been linked with a move to get Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, who scored 26 goals last campaign, back to Stamford Bridge.