Luis Suarez can add the missing bite to Chelsea's attack since bad boy Diego Costa's exit

Chelsea fans are currently living in some sort of managerial Groundhog Day with the man in charge going through the same cycle every few years; win the league, lose the dressing room, lose at home to Bournemouth and finally get fired as Bill Murray smashes his alarm clock into the floor.

It happened to Jose Mourinho 18 months ago and now Antonio Conte is on the brink of completing his own full house of Chelsea manager bingo, with reports suggesting the Blues are about ready to kick the Italian to the curb after a frankly disastrous attempt to defend the Premier League title. Much like the Portuguese coach only a season prior.

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And after that 3-0 reverse at home to the Cherries followed up by Monday’s 4-1 thrashing a Watford surely Conte’s time will be up if his depleted side (who enjoyed three days off to rediscover themselves and presumably learn to ice sculpt and play the piano) lose to West Brom next Monday. Two of the last five Chelsea managers (Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo) have been canned after losing to the Baggies.

One name linked with the, let’s face it, soon to be vacant Stamford Bridge post is former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique and if he does take over from Conte it is reported that his first target will be his namesake – and former colleague – Luis Suarez.

Conte has bemoaned his lack of firepower up front and the Uruguayan would certainly add that, having scored 121 goals in all competitions during his three years under Enrique at Barca where they won nine trophies together, including the Champions League and two La Liga titles.

However, the way things are going it looks like when that firepower does arrive it be at the disposal of a different manager, with the Daily Star reporting Enrique has already agreed terms to take over.

And when it comes to Chelsea strikers there is a certain mould that seems to fit and Suarez would be perfect for it; the bad boy. When the Blues have been through their most successful periods they’ve had an uncompromising, unlikable brute up front. Hell, they’ve had uncompromising, unlikable brutes throughout their team.

Didier Drogba, John Terry, Michael Ballack, Diego Costa. All these men have thrived on being disliked by opposition fans and players and they have all won he Premier League title with Chelsea. It’s no coincidence that since Costa was forced out by Conte in the summer, the Blues have struggled to bully their opponents and win games. By this point last season the had scored 51 goals, winning 19 games losing just three, currently they have won fewer (15), lost twice as many games and scored fewer too (46).

And their leading man brought in to replace Costa is struggling. The season started brightly for Alvaro Morata after his club record £60million move from Real Madrid but the goals have dried up; just three since the middle of November and he hasn’t played since picking up a 120th minute red card at the end of that crazy FA Cup draw with Norwich.

But it was always going to be a risk spending so much on a man who only hit double figures for league goals for the first time last season but it was also always going to be a risk bringing in someone who is a bit too nice. Nice guys very much finish last at Chelsea, especially up front where the strikers who thrive need to be feared and generally hated by all and sundry.

Fernando Torres; too nice. Michy Batshuayi; way too nice. Alexandre Pato; smile too friendly. Andre Schurrle; would definitely hold a door open for you. Costa would purposely swing the door in your face. Drogba would have charged you entry through the door-way (although then probably donated that to charity). Not since Gianfranco Zola has a universally-loved striker thrived at Stamford Bridge, but he never won the league.

With three goals in his first six games for Atletico since returning, letting Costa go is turning out to be a costly mistake by Conte and the manner in which it was done dumping him by text like a cowardly boyfriend – meant that the Italian was going to live or die by his decision, and it appears his life at Chelsea is now over.

But Suarez could be the perfect replacement. There isn’t a forward in world football who is more universally hated outside of his home nation and, like Costa, there doesn’t seem to be anyone else who quite so revels in being disliked. A man who’s bite is quite literally worse than his bite. And that is the Chelsea way that has served them so well in recent years.

It’s too late for Conte but if the Two Luis’ do arrive at Stamford Bridge in the summer then Chelsea fans are about to wake up to Sonny and Cher’s ‘I Got You Babe’ only this time things will be much more fun.