Antonio Conte has revealed his decision to cut Diego Costa from his future plans was made in January.

Costa made it clear at the turn of the year that he was interested in a big-money move to Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjin.

Chelsea resisted the transfer but the manager's mind was made up and there is no way he is changing it.

Spanish striker Diego Costa is set for a move away from Chelsea this summer

Conte spoke to the media about Costa ahead of their pre-season friendly with Arsenal

Antonio Conte sent a text message to Costa, telling the striker he was no longer in his plans

Conte revealed on Friday that the decision to cut Costa from his plans was made in January

'I don't like to talk about players who are not here,' said Conte, speaking for the first time since the infamous text message sent to Costa at the end of the season to inform him he would be allowed to leave.

'In January, the Costa situation was made very clear. For the club, for him and his agent and for me the situation is closed.'

Costa was top scorer last season with 20 goals in the Premier League as Chelsea won the title.

He wants to return to his former club Atletico Madrid and has been granted an extended summer break in order to complete the transfer.

Having missed out on Romelu Lukaku, who joined Manchester United for £90m, Chelsea have signed Alvaro Morata as his replacement.

The Italian manager put his players through their paces on Friday ahead of the Arsenal match

Brazilian David Luiz performs keepy-ups in Chelsea training at the Bird's Nest Stadium

Pedro will be hoping to get minutes under his belt on Saturday against Arsene Wenger's side

Morata, who underwent a medical in London on Thursday, will cost a club record fee which starts at £58million and could rise to £70m.

'For sure this transfer market is crazy,' said Conte. 'Not only for this season, but now if you want to buy a simple player - a normal player - you have to start to think about spending 40 to 50 million euros.

'It's incredible this situation but there is this situation and we must live with it.

'Lukaku cost a lot of money but the same with [Alex] Lacazette and Arsenal who spent 65m euros. For a right-back you spend 60-70m euros. This is the situation now.

'We must be very good and not make a mistake when we buy a player. You have to spend a lot and it is very important to make the right choice.'

Conte claims that strikers Romelu Lukaku and Alexandre Lacazette 'cost a lot of money'

The Chelsea manager insists that Alvaro Morata 'will be our first-choice' when he signs

Morata is expected to complete his move before the weekend and join up with the Chelsea squad on the next leg of their tour in Singapore.

'This is a good signing for us,' said Conte. 'Morata is a young player but he has a lot of experience and played in the past with Real Madrid and Juventus in the league and the Champions League.

'He's a good striker, a player with the right prospects for Chelsea. He will be our first-choice. He can show his value with us. He is young and can improve a lot.'

Chelsea face Arsenal in Beijing on Saturday before games against Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in Singapore.