Chelsea will hold a meeting with Diego Costa next week in a bid to keep him at the club for the season.
Senior players have urged the fiery striker to apologise after his row with club fitness staff and manager Antonio Conte recognising his key role in their quest for the Premier League title.Â
Costa has shown some contrition for his actions but there is still work to be done to pacify the 28-year-old.
Roman Abramovich has no wish to sell the Spanish international in this window despite lucrative offers from China, notably from Tianjin Quanjian, and the club will insist he sees out the season.
Reports from ESPN Brasil on Saturday also stated that Costa had no interest in a move to China.
Costa has scored 14 goals and provided five assists this season. He admitted earlier this month that he wanted to leave Chelsea last summer, but that he was now happy to stay.
Chelsea have held discussions about a deal to bring in Fernando Llorente from Swansea as cover for Costa and have considered fresh moves for Everton's Romelu Lukaku and Alvaro Morata at Real Madrid but neither club have shown an inclination to sell at this stage.
Meanwhile, Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford has been recalled from his loan at Burnley with Middlesbrough still favourites to sign the 23-year-old. Mail Online
Â