Diego Costa seeking loyalty bonus against Chelsea

[Photo: courtesy]

Chelsea have been rocked by a demand for a loyalty bonus from Diego Costa.

The Spain striker has added to the beleaguered champions’ woes by claiming he is entitled to the payment as he is being forced out by Antonio Conte.

It comes with the injury-hit Blues reeling from their shock home defeat to Burnley in Saturday’s opening game of the season.

Costa’s bonus demand is understood to form part of his legal case against the club, revealed last week.

It also comes despite Costa openly admitting last season that he wanted to rejoin his former club, Atletico Madrid, only to have his exit vetoed by Conte.

Speaking in the Spanish media, the £140,000-a-week star said last August: “Everybody knows there was a possibility of going back to Atletico but it didn’t happen because of a few details.

“Now I’m at Chelsea, I’m happy there and I’ve started the season with them. I hope Atletico do well this season like last year and win titles. I wanted to go back, I won’t lie about it.”

Costa is also understood to have pushed for a lucrative move to Chinese club Tianjin Quinjan in January.

Again, Conte blocked the move, but the Italian revealed two weeks ago that he made it clear to Costa and his representatives at that point that he could leave at the end of the season.

Chelsea are believed to be defending their position.