Ray Wilkins says he would prefer Chelsea to have Diego Costa up front instead of Alvaro Morata. Costa has not joined up with Chelsea despite the season being well underway, and there is speculation that he could make a £57m move to Atletico Madrid in January.

Costa’s replacement, club-record signing Alvaro Morata, has impressed since joining the club – but former Blues assistant manager Ray Wilkins says he would rather have the troubled Costa up front.

Wilkins admits that technically speaking speaking Morata is a better player, but says Costa’s temperament and fear that he brings opposition defenders puts him above the new No.9.

“I see a better footballer in Morata – better control, movement and probably quicker,” Wilkins said on Premier League Daily.

“But when I look at the beast in Costa… he upsets people. I’d much rather have Costa than Morata.”

“Why we [Chelsea] haven’t got both, I don’t know. He should be at Stamford Bridge and then Chelsea would have a proper strike force.”

“I just can’t see why Costa is still in Brazil, playing five-a-side football on a beach with his mates.”

With Costa supposedly being told by manager Antonio Conte that he is no longer in his plans, the Brazilian born Spanish international has reiterated his desire to leave Stamford Bridge and return to former side Atletico. £70m Morata has big boots to fill, but so far this season he has shown he is more than capable of doing so.