Premier League: Chelsea don't need Diego Costa, insists Thibaut Courtois

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois believes his team sent a message to their rivals with their win over Leicester City without Diego Costa.

Costa is apparently unsettled by an offer from the Chinese Super League, while head coach Antonio Conte said the Spain international was battling a back injury.

Premier League HOT or NOT: Davies, Bilic, Crouch, Guardiola, Pogba

What’s sexy, and what’s unsexy, in football this week…

HOT

Tom Davies’ beard

There was much to admire about the Everton youngster’s coming-of-age display against Manchester City. The swashbuckling midfield dynamism, the relentless running, the Messi-esque flick and finish for his sublime goal, the passionate celebration with the home fans and the laughably unfashionable blonde curtains. But the icing on this electrifying Evertonian cake was the bushy monstrosity covering the lower part of his face. Davies boasted a fulsomeness of facial hair that no 18-year-old should have a right to grow – and it was this beard that symbolised his readiness for Premier League football and proved he could mix it with the men.

 

Costa and Payet disloyal? Premier League is just being played at its own game

You could not, as they say, make it up. Some clubs in the English Premier League are a bit miffed because a foreign league with oodles of cash is trying to waltz in and buy up its best players. This is, of course, an affront because it is the Premier League clubs that are supposed to buy up everyone else’s players.

La Liga Leaks: Dybala ‘waiting for Madrid call’, N’Zonzi ‘to reject Premier interest & join Juve’

Senor Rumor Andrew Gaffney wraps the latest transfer rumours and going-ons from La Liga.

While the British media has predictably jumped on the fine form of Dele Alli to suggest he’s likely to be the most sought-after signing this summer, over in Spain, it appears Paulo Dybala is the latest player Barcelona and Real Madrid will battle over.

Premier League transfer window 2017 LIVE: All the ins and outs

Welcome to day 6 of the January Transfer Window.

Yahoo Sport’s Stanley Accrington has already rounded up the biggest rumours and gossip in his column today, some stories far more believable than others but all handled in Stan’s trademark manner.

Today’s big name is Antoine Griezmann who apparently has been offered the same wages and bonus structure as Paul Pogba to sign for Manchester United…