Man Utd 'at the head' of the queue for Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa
Karan Tejwani
- 15 Oct 2022 10:20 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United are reportedly leading the race for Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, as the Portuguese number one continues to impress for club and country this season.
The Red Devils are likely to be in the market for a new goalkeeper as David de Gea’s contract runs out at the end of the season and his future as first-choice remains uncertain.
Manager Erik ten Hag has said he wants to reward players with new contracts only if they perform at the highest standard and that has raised doubts over De Gea’s future.
The manager would also like a goalkeeper who is more confident with the ball and able to command his area, and Porto’s Costa may be that man for him.
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Man Utd eyeing Porto goalkeeper
A report from Diario de Noticias claims United are “at the head” of the clubs interested in the 23-year-old goalkeeper, who has been in excellent form so far this season.
According to the report, his performances have “activated the radars” of some of the biggest clubs in Europe, with United being the most interested in a potential move in the future.
Manchester United want to find a long-term replacement for De Gea, and as a result, with Costa targeted, he may become Porto’s most expensive sale of all time.
🧤 | Diogo Costa tonight v Bayer Leverkusen
▪️1 assist
▪️1 penalty saved
▪️4 saves
▪️3 saves from shots inside box
▪️17 accurate long passes
▪️1 clearance
▪️A clean sheet
FC Porto’s number 99 🔥🧱 pic.twitter.com/bZ3kcUzB9H— Próxima Jornada (@ProximaJornada1) October 12, 2022
It’s believed that any interested club will have to pay €60 million to acquire his services, which is his release clause at Porto – the record for the club’s most expensive sale belongs to Eder Militao.
This past week, Costa impressed in a Champions League fixture against Bayer Leverkusen, becoming the first goalkeeper in the tournament’s history to save a penalty and assist a goal in the same game.
His calmness on the ball, combined with his excellent shot-stopping has made him a well-regarded name, and he is set to go into the World Cup in Qatar in the winter as Portugal’s number one.
