Chelsea are using Antonio Conte's text to Diego Costa a year ago to talk down his compensation demands.

The Sun says Chelsea are haggling with axed Conte to try to slash his £9million pay-off.

The Italian had a year left on his contract but the Blues want to cut his compensation by claiming he cost them millions of pounds over his treatment of Diego Costa.

Chelsea officially ended the Italian coach's two-year reign in a 61-word statement having sacked him at the training ground 24 hours earlier.

Ex-striker Costa was informed via a text last summer he was no longer part of Conte's plans even though the head coach acted without consulting owner Roman Abramovich.

Costa was eventually sold back to former club Atletico Madrid for £67m — a profit of £35m.