Chelsea manager Antonio Conte reportedly blocked a move for striker Diego Costa to go to Paris Saint-Germain on transfer deadline day as part of the David Luiz deal.
According to France Football (via Alex Wood in the Daily Star), PSG attempted to lure the prolific Spain international to the Parc des Princes, but Conte "refused to play ball."
Eventually, Chelsea re-signed Brazilian centre-back Luiz from the French giants for £34 million and kept hold of Costa, who has already netted five times in five Premier League matches so far this season, per WhoScored.com.
After a poor season for Chelsea and Costa in 2015-16, there was much speculation that the combative 27-year-old forward might return to former club Atletico Madrid in the summer, per Tony Banks in the Express.
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Costa himself admitted that he wanted to go back to the Vicente Calderon Stadium and only "a few details" prevented his return, per Wood.
It seems that Paris was another potential destination. It is likely that the French giants were eager to add Costa to their squad as a replacement for the departed Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
With Costa having looked unsettled last term in the Premier League—he netted only 12 goals in 28 appearances, down from 20 in 26 in 2014-15—Chelsea could easily have taken the decision to cash in on him.
However, Conte was seemingly adamant that Costa would stay at Stamford Bridge and play as his No. 1 striker.
And the Italian's refusal to sell the Brazilian-born forward is already proving a masterstroke. Per Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe, Costa has been one of the best players in the Premier League so far in 2016-17:
Three of Costa's five top-flight goals this term have earned Chelsea points—he netted late winners against Watford and West Ham United, plus an equaliser against Swansea City.
He seems to have rediscovered the flair and fight that made him so effective for Chelsea as they won the Premier League at a canter in 2014-15.
Statistically, it would have been foolish of Chelsea to have sold Costa to PSG in the summer as his goals-to-game ratio is impeccable, per Opta:
However, there were points last term where his behaviour was heavily criticised, and he seemed primed for the exit door at Stamford Bridge.
Conte's insistence that he remain at the club looks to have been a terrific move by the Blues manager, and PSG have lost out.
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