Thomas Muller to Chelsea: Blues to rival Manchester United for Bayern Munich striker after Diego Costa tantrum

Chelsea will not punish Costa for his show of disrespect, but instead will replace him unless his form picks up over the course of the season

Chelsea will rival Manchester United to try and sign Thomas Muller in the summer (Getty Images)

Chelsea have decided not to punish Diego Costa for his touchline tantrum during Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Tottenham, but could look to replace him in the summer with Bayern Munich and Germany striker Thomas Müller.

Costa has cut a frustrated figure this season, with his four goals so far falling well short of the 11 he has struck this time last year. His poor form, combined with Chelsea’s slow start to the season, led to the Brazil-born Spain international being dropped on the weekend, with Jose Mourinho instead choosing to deploy Eden Hazard in attack.

27-year-old Costa did not take his demotion well, and after pulling out of the pre-match warm-up he was seen throwing his bib towards Mourinho, much to the amusement of some of his team-mates sitting on the substitutes’ bench.

But while the club will not take action against Costa after Mourinho admitted the incident was nothing to be worried about, the Blues could still look to replace the former Atletico Madrid forward.

The Mirror reports today that Chelsea will look to rival Manchester United for Bayern Munich’s Müller at the end of the season. United have been interest in the Germany international for the past two years, but saw their pursuit of the 26-year-old rebuffed last summer as manager Louis van Gaal and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward struggled to land their transfer targets.

The World Cup winner would command a huge transfer fee should he choose to leave the Allianz Arena given his relatively young age and phenomenal career to date, which includes four Bundesliga titles, three German Cup successes, one Champions League victory and the 2014 World Cup triumph.

However, former Bayern and Germany midfielder Lothar Matthaus has warned Müller not to move to the Premier League, and has urged him to remain with the Bavarian club for the rest of his career.

“He does not need Manchester United or Chelsea,” said Matthaus. “Barcelona perhaps could use him, but I do not know whether he can deal with their game.

“My opinion is that he should definitely stay at Bayern for his lifetime.

“He started his professional career at Bayern and I think he should end his career here. He does not need any new challenge as he is always playing at the highest level every year at Bayern.”

Muller has joined an extensive list of possible targets in the summer, although Mourinho has expressed his opinion that the Blues will not do any transfer business in January because he “doesn’t deserve” to have new players.

Both Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid and Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain have been linked with the Blues, while closer to home both Jamie Vardy and West Bromwich Albion’s Saido Berahino are said to have attracted interest from Stamford Bridge – the former due to his record-breaking run of scoring in Leicester’s last 11 Premier League matches.