Diego Costa’s days at Chelsea could be numbered after he threw his training bib at manager Jose Mourinho, according to former Blues goalkeeper Mark Bosnich.

Having been benched for Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, Costa took off his warm-up bib and threw it in Mourinho‘s direction after it had become clear in stoppage time that he would not be used, per the Independent‘s James Orr.

It is not the first time this season that the Brazil-born striker has clashed with his manager, and Bosnich believes Costa could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge before long, per Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast (via talkSPORT’s Alex Varney):

It didn’t look good. Generally when you are with a manager and you do that type of thing, it is the beginning of the end. 

Not going out for the warm-up, I can understand that completely, but throwing the bib at the manager during the game points to one way. 

They probably won’t do it immediately but I really do think it is the beginning of the end, which is really unfortunate because he has been a smash hit since he has been at Chelsea.

Costa has been poor for the Blues this season and significantly less effective in front of goal than he was in 2014-15, per Sky Sports News HQ:

His lack of goals has been a major cause of Chelsea’s malaise in the current campaign as the defending champions have struggled near the bottom of the table—they currently lie 14th.

Rumours of Costa potentially being shipped out of the club have been circulating for some time, per Bleacher Report’s Dean Jones:

If he continues with his off-field antics and fails to repair his relationship with Mourinho, he could well be on his way out of the club.

Chelsea will need to line up an appropriate replacement if they are to ship Costa out as his current backups in the squad include the out-of-form Radamel Falcao and the underused Loic Remy.

Meanwhile, the Blues have reportedly entered the race to sign Genoa‘s 18-year-old star Rolando Mandragora.

Currently on loan at Serie B side Pescara, the midfielder looks an impressive talent, and Chelsea have joined West Ham United, Inter Milan, Juventus, AC Milan and Roma in targeting Mandragora, per Italian outlet Calcio Mercato (via Metro‘s Max Miller).

The Blues may struggle to snap up the young Italian given the number of top Serie A sides pursing him, but he could be a fine long-term addition in west London with Chelsea needing some added verve in their squad.

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