Keeping Alvaro Morata over Diego Costa is a Gamble Worth Taken - Says Jamie Redknapp

Antonio Conte has all the talents of Diego Costa in Alvaro Morata with none of the headaches, according to Jamie Redknapp. Costa caused a stir at Chelsea when he revealed Conte had sent him a text this summer saying he was not part of his future plans.

The Chelsea striker then refused to return to pre-season and has now secured a return to Atletico Madrid. Conte replaced Costa with Real Madrid’s Morata and the Spaniard has started brilliantly, scoring his first hat-trick for the Blues on Saturday.

And Redknapp has been surprised by Morata’s quality and believes Conte took a massive risk this summer signing him.

‘I thought that Chelsea replacing Diego Costa with Morata would be one of the biggest gambles of the season,’ Redknapp wrote in the Daily Mail.

‘Morata may not have the same subtle touches as Kane in his game but he is confounding all his doubters.

‘Having already shown his remarkable heading ability, against Stoke he demonstrated blistering pace and clinical finishing.

‘I read that Antonio Conte thinks Morata is the sort of player he would be happy for his daughter to marry. I can’t imagine him saying the same about Costa!

‘Conte will be able to get the best from Morata without having to deal with the dressing-room distractions Costa might have caused.’

Morata’s hat-trick has sparked talk of the youngster challenging for the Golden Boot this season.

The 24-year-old is tied at the top of the scoring charts on six goals alongside Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero.

Credit - Metro