Azpilicueta and Ivanovic touted as possible Costa cover by Chelsea legend Nevin

The former Blues winger acknowledges that
Michy Batshuayi is likely to step in for the
suspended Spain international, but believes
Antonio Conte has options
Diego Costa will be missing for Chelsea on Boxing
Day, and Blues legend Pat Nevin says Antonio
Conte has more cover options than immediately
meets the eye.
With the Premier league’s top scorer due to serve
a suspension against Bournemouth after collecting
five bookings this season, changes will need to be
made by the in-form capital outfit.
Who has the most time off over Xmas?
Michy Batshuayi is expected to step in, with the
Belgium international a proven striker in his own
right and a big-money summer acquisition by
Conte.
Chelsea, though, boast a number of versatile
performers within their ranks that could fill the
attacking void if required.
Nevin cannot see Cesc Fabregas being asked to
fill the ‘false nine’ role he has taken on with Spain
in the past, but has talked up the claims of
defensive stalwarts Cesar Azpilicueta and
Branislav Ivanovic – in what would be a rather
left-field move by a side on an 11-match winning
run.
He told the club’s official website: “Maybe Conte
will have found out that Victor Moses has the
ability to do that central role as well.
Conte hints at Chelsea transfers
“It would not surprise me in the slightest and
obviously Cesar Azpilicueta could play as a
centre-forward because he clearly can play
absolutely anywhere with no discernible impact on
the quality of his output!
“I will leave Branislav Ivanovic out of this
discussion as I have yet to find many who agree
with me that he could be a perfectly good striker.
His movement in the box from crosses is
fantastic, his finishing is extremely good too and I
suspect he might just be able to hold the ball up
quite well also.
“When I say this to people they usually give me a
funny look but although he is a 100/1 outsider, I
would love to see it, though it might just crush
Michy’s confidence if he was overlooked for
Brana.
“I am not even to go down the road of Cesc
playing the false number nine, something he has
done before but suffice to say there are a few
options available to Antonio
Costa netted his 13th goal of the season on
Saturday as Chelsea edged out London rivals
Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park.
He will, however, have to wait until a New Year’s
Eve home date with Stoke City before looking to
add to that tally, with N’Golo Kante also set to be
sidelined against Bournemouth after picking up a
fifth booking of the 2016-17 campaign.