Chelsea are considering a personal fitness regime for Diego Costa as the striker’s departure from the Premier League champions edges closer.

Costa’s career at Stamford Bridge is over and head coach Antonio Conte has already told the Spain international he will not be permitted to train with Chelsea’s first team at their Cobham base.

He is yet to return for pre-season training but with Atletico Madrid and AC Milan hopeful of signing him this summer, Chelsea are prepared to send the 28-year-old a special training programme until a deal is agreed.

Costa has been training alone in Brazil and Chelsea want to ensure he is fully fit to speed up the chances of a move away.

Atletico failed with an initial bid of £26 million last month and are keen to bring their former player back to the Spanish capital, even though they are operating under a transfer ban until January.

AC Milan are interested in a permanent deal for Costa and Chelsea remain confident of agreeing a significant fee for last season’s leading scorer, despite his spectacular fall-out with Conte and the club’s hierarchy.

Conte admitted during Chelsea’s tour of Asia that he decided to axe the striker in January, after running out of patience as Costa pushed for a move to the lucrative Chinese Super League with Tianjin Quanjian.

It is also understood that Costa asked to leave Chelsea on three separate occasions last season and the club is determined to offload him quickly to avoid any more potential flare-ups.

Antonio Conte has wanted rid of Diego Costa since January credit: REUTERS

Chelsea’s squad return to training on Wednesday, after being given a few days off following their return from Singapore over the weekend.

Chelsea are more focused on player recruitment, with Conte hopeful of up to four more signings before the transfer window closes on August 31.

Conte has already spent around £130 million on Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Antonio Rudiger but has made it abundantly clear that his squad still urgently needs reinforcements.

Juventus left-back Alex Sandro is a priority target, while Leicester’s Danny Drinkwater has now been added to Chelsea’s wishlist as they look to increase their quota of British players.

Danny Drinkwater (left) has been linked with Chelsea credit: GETTY IMAGES

Leicester insist Drinkwater is not for sale but he has joined Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Everton’s Ross Barkley as another potential English signing.

Chelsea are hopeful of making another signing before Sunday's Community Shield game against Arsenal at Wembley.

Meanwhile, Kenedy has been given an extension by the Football Association after being asked for his observations on his incendiary remarks during Chelsea’s stay in Beijing.

Kenedy, 21, posted two inappropriate messages on Instagram which sparked widespread outrage in China, the world's fastest growing consumer economy, leading to huge embarrassment to the club.

He was subsequently ordered home from the tour and was pictured training alone on Cobham on Tuesday.

The FA has now granted the Brazilian an extension until August 3 for his response, before deciding whether to pursue disciplinary action.