Report: Chelsea to target Morata as Costa replacement this summer

Diego Costa's Chelsea reprieve looks set to last only until the summer transfer window.

The Blues are reportedly eyeing Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, the Spaniard being identified as Antonio Conte's preferred option with Costa looking increasingly likely to be jettisoned.

Report: Chelsea 'increasingly likely' to sell Costa in summer

The Premier League's joint-leading scorer has been the centre of attention at Stamford Bridge over the past week, his omission from the squad for the victory over Leicester City causing a stir; officially, Conte said the 28-year-old suffered a back injury, though reports raged that a training-ground row and opulent offer from China had driven a wedge between the two fiery characters.

Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian reportedly tabled a lucrative deal that would've paid the striker £30 million per season, though the potential signing was scuppered when the league implemented new rules limiting the number of foreign players.

Despite returning to first-team training Tuesday, the belief around the club is that Costa, who has found the net 14 times in league play this season, will be heading for the exit door come the summer transfer window.

Related: Chelsea's Costa returns to 1st-team training after alleged bust-up

And according to Matt Law of the Telegraph, Conte has tabbed Morata as his ideal replacement.

The Italian gaffer, who was at the helm of Juventus when the young attacker joined the Bianconeri in 2014, reportedly attempted to sign him once again upon his arrival in west London last summer.

Morata, who rejoined Real Madrid after the club exercised a buy-back option to sign him from Juventus in June, admitted as much, noting that Conte and Chelsea had shown strong interest in his services.

Real Madrid, however, remained firm that the 24-year-old would not be sold at the time.

But Law notes that Chelsea will once again make a move for the talented forward, buoyed by his lack of opportunities to start for Los Blancos; Morata, playing second fiddle to one of the most talented forward lines on the planet, has started just six La Liga matches this season, making a total of 12 appearances.

Despite limited action, the prolific Spaniard has scored five times in domestic play.