Chelsea fans in the Football Transfer Tavern would have been rocked by the news that top goalscorer, and star striker Diego Costa was rumoured to be keen on a move to China earlier this month.

With those stories seemingly dying down and the Spaniard returning to the Blues’ starting line-up and getting a goal in the 2-0 win against Hull City at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, it appears as though the attacker will stay with the Premier League title hopefuls until the end of the season – something that will be relief to the Blues supporters standing at the bar.

However, reports on Monday suggest that the west London outfit would be ready to sell the 28-year-old to a Chinese Super League club, or elsewhere, should they receive a world-record £130m bid – even the landlord has to raise his eyebrows to that fee!

Whether that was to happen this month or in the summer, it would give manager Antonio Conte some big funds to strengthen his side.

Here are THREE players Chelsea could spend the £130m they may receive for selling Costa…

Virgil van Dijk

After being named as Southampton’s permanent team captain following the departure of Jose Fonte to West Ham last week, Van Dijk looks set to be a Saints player until the end of the season.

However, the in-demand Dutchman will surely exit St Mary’s in the summer, and with all of the top Premier League sides sure to be interested in the impressive centre-back – he certainly won’t have failed to impress the Blues fans in the tavern – the south coast outfit will hope a bidding war commences for a player they are said to value at around £50m – a potential world-record fee for a defender.

While Cesar Azpilicueta has filled in admirably at centre-back, Antonio Conte will surely want a natural in that position next season, and there doesn’t seem to be many better candidates than the Saints skipper right now – the landlord sees it as a no-brainer, especially if it stops one of their title rivals snapping him up instead.

Antoine Griezmann

Antonio Conte will know that he needs to bring in a player who can score goals on a regular basis should Diego Costa leave Stamford Bridge, and there appears to be few better candidates right now than Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann – this is a transfer that would be the talk of the tavern.

The Frenchman, who came third in the 2016 Ballon d’Or behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, has netted 15 goals in 31 appearances for club and country this season, including a brilliant goal to help his side to a 2-2 draw away at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday – the landlord believes this is a deal that would show Chelsea mean business.

While he may not come on the cheap – the Blues’ Premier League rivals Manchester United have been linked with a £85m move for the 25-year-old – he could be the solution to the loss of goals that Costa’s departure would inevitably bring.

Alvaro Morata

While Griezmann is more of a forward than an out-and-out striker, Morata is far more similar to Diego Costa and would be more of a like-for-like replacement – something that the Chelsea supporters standing at the bar feel is important to the team’s style of play.

Standing at the same height as his Spain teammate – 6’2″ – the 24-year-old has scored nine goals in 25 appearances for Real Madrid this season after returning to the La Liga leaders in the summer following an impressive spell in Serie A with Juventus.

Known to be good in the air and at holding the ball up, Antonio Conte will surely have Morata high up on his list of targets should Costa exit Stamford Bridge during the remainder of the January transfer window, or in the summer – this is another potential deal that has the seal of approval from the landlord.

Do you agree, Chelsea fans? Let us know below.