Gary Cahill also expects Chelsea to sign more players before the window closes (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea captain Gary Cahill admits Diego Costa will be a ‘big miss’ for the Premier League champions as they prepare to defend the title.

Costa netted 24 goals for the Blues last term but was told by text earlier in the summer that he no longer had a future at Stamford Bridge.

Antonio Conte made the bold decision as he expected to sign Romelu Lukaku as Costa’s replacement but the Belgian suddenly joined Manchester United.

Conte will now hope former Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata can fill the void left by Costa – but club captain Cahill fears Chelsea will miss the fiery Spaniard.

He told talkSPORT: ‘As a player, he will be missed. Diego Costa is Diego Costa – he scores goals.

Diego Costa was exiled by Antonio Conte earlier in the summer (Picture: Getty)

‘He is an animated character and he is a big personality. He will be a big miss.

‘We have obviously added to the squad with Alvaro [Morata] and that is a great addition to the squad, but you are always to going miss big players.’

As well as bringing Morata to west London, Chelsea have also added Antonio Rudiger and Tiemoue Bakayoko to Conte’s squad.

However, with the 2017-18 season official starting in 24 hours’ time, the former Italy boss has made no secret of his desire to bolster his options.

Alvaro Morata was signed as Costa’s replacement (Picture: Getty)

Cahill also expects the club’s board to be busy during the remainder of the transfer window, admitting he is concerned by the Blues’ relatively small squad.

‘You would have thought so,’ the England defender said when asked whether he expects more arrivals.

Chelsea 2017/18 Fixtures

Newcastle (A) - Sun May 13

‘There is no getting away from the fact if you look at the back of the programme at the weekend [the squad is small].

‘We have certainly got the quality – you have seen that last season – but we have to keep players fit because at the minute our squad isn’t as big as some of the other squads.’

MORE : Gary Cahill reveals Spanish contingent have helped Morata settle at Chelsea