Antonio Conte’s decision to dump Diego Costa by text threatens to cost Chelsea millions, despite a warning from the club’s board that he will not be allowed to negotiate his own exit.

Costa revealed late on Wednesday night that he had received a message from head coach Conte informing him that his is not part of the Italian’s plans for next season, with Chelsea set to replace him with Romelu Lukaku.

Telegraph Sport understands the exchange between the pair took place at the start of the week and it was Costa’s reply to advice over what he should be doing during the summer that provoked Conte.

Costa responded to Conte’s message that he is not wanted by contacting board members to tell them that Chelsea will now have to sell him on his terms.

But director Marina Granovskaia, who is the closest ally of owner Roman Abramovich, informed Costa in no uncertain terms that it is Chelsea and not him who will negotiate his exit.