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Report: Costa, Courtois to open talks over new Chelsea deals

Lee Smith / Reuters

Chelsea striker Diego Costa and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois are willing to negotiate new contracts with the Blues - a positive development after months of speculation over their future.

The Telegraph's Matt Law reports Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has convinced the duo - who won La Liga together with Atletico Madrid in 2014 - they don't have to return to Spain to reignite their careers.

Costa, 28, and Courtois, 24, both have deals until June 2019, presenting no immediate need for a renewal.

But Law notes talks will begin in the new year, with the pair expected to pull in £200,000 and £150,000 a week, respectively, if they recommit to the club.

The willingness to entertain a long-term agreement is a welcome sign of progress from two players who looked destined to leave Stamford Bridge in the latter stages of Jose Mourinho's reign.

Soon after he accepted the Chelsea job, Conte reportedly held heart-to-heart discussions with Costa in a bid to convince the Spain international of staying in west London.

That obviously worked. The controversial striker has gone on to lead the Premier League scoring chart with 10 goals.

Courtois also met with Conte during a four-day tour of Cobham's training ground last April, a rendezvous that laid the foundations for this season's stunning turnaround in form. The Belgian shot-stopper has posted six consecutive clean sheets in league play.

Finding a team that had produced the weakest title defence in Premier League history, the former Italy boss has now guided Chelsea to the top of the English top flight with nine wins in 12 matches.

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