Antonio Conte claims not to have discerned any shift in Diego Costa’s focus despite the striker’s anticipated summer departure for the Chinese Super League, and the Chelsea manager is urging all his players to concentrate solely on the final weeks of the team’s pursuit of a Premier League and FA Cup double.

Tianjin Quanjian, who had attempted to secure Costa’s services mid-season, are expected to sign the forward in a deal worth up to £76m this summer. The Spain international, who turns 29 in October and is contracted through to 2019 at Stamford Bridge, would become the best-paid player in the Chinese Super League. Sources close to the player say no deal has, as yet, been signed but there is a sense at Chelsea that such a mind-boggling offer would be accepted for a striker who has, at times, proved rather high-maintenance.

Diego Costa will not return to Chelsea team unless his attitude improves Read more

Costa has scored 19 league goals this season, a tally to which he hopes to add against Middlesbrough on Monday, and has been a key contributor to the team’s progress. But his form has been less productive since Tianjin’s interest first surfaced in January. His recent brace against Southampton ended a seven-game scoreless streak in all competitions. Asked if he expected the forward to remain at the club next season, Conte referred back to his comment on Eden Hazard the previous week when he implied the “will of the player” has to be taken into account when it comes to decisions over their future.

“I repeat the same concept about Diego and every single player,” he said. “But I’m not worried [about his focus]. I see my players every day and I can see the right concentration, the right focus, about my players. I think in this part of the season you arrive with four games to go and have the possibility to reach a fantastic target for us – don’t forget we started this season with a lot of problems and now we have a fantastic possibility to reach a great target and win the Premier League and also to play the FA Cup final, another great competition... these two big targets for us are very, very important. They are the most important things for us. Speculation or news, for me, is not important.

“I don’t know about this [potential deal to take Costa to China]. Now it’s very important for every single player and person who works for Chelsea to be focused on the present, because the present is more important for us than the future. But I’m not worried about this. I see my players every day and I see the right concentration and focus in them.”

Conte, who will seek medical assessments of N’Golo Kanté and David Luiz before finalising his selection against Boro, was irritated by a suggestion that some senior players who have been reduced to cameo roles may be “unhappy” with their lot. “I’d like to underline a concept: that’s it not about keeping the players ‘happy’. We must win,” he said when asked specifically about Cesc Fàbregas’ role this season. “You speak about people being happy but I speak about winning and working hard. Players are not always happy to work hard but my target is to put in the mind of the players a winning mentality. And that winning mentality doesn’t have to keep the players happy.

“It’s very difficult to keep 20 players happy, above all because I don’t actually want to. I don’t want this. I want players ready to fight and to try to put themselves in the team, to try to win together. If you are happy or unhappy, I don’t care. It’s important to stress this concept, you understand?

“Anyway, if you are unhappy in a season when you are fighting for the title and to win the FA Cup... I don’t like this.”

The Italian added praise for Fàbregas, whose influence has been felt whenever he has had game-time, and pointed to his “great commitment, great work-rate and great behaviour all season”.

The Spanish midfielder will enter the final year of his own contract in July but, despite starting only 10 league games this season, is expected to opt to stay at the club with a return to the Champions League ahead.