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Azpilicueta welcomes Costa, Luis talk

Cesar Azpilicueta says the extra competition for starting spots at Chelsea next season would be welcomed if Diego Costa and Filipe Luis both join from Atletico Madrid.

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The Colchoneros pair have been linked with moves to Stamford Bridge this summer -- with centre-forward Costa, 25, reportedly close to a 40 million euro move and left-back Filipe, 28, also widely expected to complete a move for around 24 million euros.

This would leave Blues coach Jose Mourinho with a significantly stronger squad, and affect the places available for current players such as Fernando Torres, Demba Ba, Branislav Ivanovic and Azpilicueta.

Speaking from Spain's World Cup camp in Curitiba, the full-back, 24, said he was not concerned about the possible arrival of Brazil international Filipe.

"When you play in a top level team the competition for places is always the maximum," Azpilicueta said. "I have always fought for a place with total respect for my teammates and I will do it like that."

The arrival of Costa, who scored 36 goals in all competitions for Atletico last season, would be a particular boost, added Azpilicueta.

"[Costa] seems a great player to me," Azpilicueta said. "He has scored a lot of important goals, but we have great forwards and the best thing is that competition makes us better."