There are rumors that Chelsea striker Diego Costa's form has started dipping since he was linked to a potential move to the Chinese Super League earlier this year.

Metro claims that the 28-year-old Spain international "has not quite looked himself" ever since reports surfaced that he had been planning to exit Chelsea amid speculations that Chinese top-flights clubs were interested in signing him during the last winter transfer window.

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Costa allegedly had an internal dispute with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte in January, and this led to the player being benched for an entire game against Leicester City. At the same time, teams from the Far East were reportedly keen on signing Costa last winter. These teams are likely to be still interested in pursuing him at the end of the season when the summer window reopens.

Before the rumors emerged, Costa was playing some of the best football games of his life, scoring 14 goals in all competitions for the Blues. However, since then, he has only netted four times in 11 matches in all competitions, indicating a huge drop in form for the 6-foot-2 Brazil-born Spaniard.

Costa's conversion rate has reportedly dropped from 24.14 percent to 10.34 percent. After dishing out five assists prior to being linked to China, Costa has not provided any pass to his Blues teammates since.

Speculations abound that Costa could be deliberately dropping his play as he wants Chelsea to consider selling him this summer, preferably to his old team Atletico Madrid or to a club that will make him one of the highest-paid football players in the world.

Costa was offered a "staggering £30 million ($37.5 million) per year contract" by CSL outfit Tianjin Quanjian last January, which "would have almost tripled his salary" at Chelsea, Goal indicated.

Last Saturday, Costa had an uncharacteristically horrible game against Crystal Palace as the Blues suffered a 1-2 loss at their home field, Stamford Bridge. Costa had two chances to win the game for Chelsea, but the first one was blocked while the second one was a wide header from close range.

TagsChinese Super League, Chinese Super League rumors, Chinese Super League rumors 2017, Diego Costa, Chelsea FC