Man Utd weigh up world record move for De Gea replacement

Tom Hancock

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:37 CDT
• 3 min read

Manchester United are considering a summer swoop for Porto’s Diogo Costa as a possible replacement for David de Gea – but they may have to match the highest fee ever paid for a goalkeeper.

Chelsea set that particular record when they signed Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao in 2019 for €80m.

Man Utd are said to be keen to extend De Gea’s stay at Old Trafford – but recent high-profile howlers by the Spaniard have left Erik ten Hag’s side at risk of blowing Champions League qualification, and inevitably increased speculation over De Gea’s future.

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According to Football Insider, Porto won’t sell Costa, 23 – who came through the club’s academy and took over the number one spot last season – for less than €80m.

The Portugal international – who played in all five of his country’s games at the 2022 World Cup – has seen his stock continue to rise during a fine campaign.

Costa has kept 15 clean sheets in the Primeira Liga this term – the third-most in the Portuguese top flight – as second-placed Porto look to close a four-point gap to leaders Benfica with four matches remaining.

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De Gea displays don't dispel doubts

De Gea made headlines for unfortunate reasons again at the weekend, dropping an absolute clanger to gift West Ham victory over Man Utd on Sunday.

Only a couple of weeks earlier, the 32-year-old was at fault for all three goals as Man Utd lost to Sevilla in the Europa League – cutting off the potential path back into the Champions League of winning that competition.

Such disastrous recent performances have done nothing to dilute the widely held view that Man Utd should dispense with De Gea as number one.