Manchester United are reportedly “willing to launch an offer of close to €70 million” to secure the services of Porto shot-stopper Diogo Costa despite landing Andre Onana earlier this summer.
According to a report from Fichajes, Manchester United are ready to table a mammoth €70 million offer for FC Porto shot-stopper Diogo Costa as they look to completely overhaul the goalkeeping department following David de Gea’s departure earlier this summer.
The Red Devils have already paid out £43 million to land Andre Onana from Inter Milan, with Erik ten Hag viewing him as De Gea’s replacement, but with Dean Henderson set to join Nottingham Forest and both Everton and Luton Town offering an opportunity for 37-year-old Tom Heaton to start regularly next season, the club have been looking at options to keep competition for places strong.
The Red Devils have been keeping tabs on 20-year-old Urawa Red Diamonds stopper Zion Suzuki and Fenerbahce goalkeeper Altay Bayindir as potential low-cost options to serve as Onana’s understudy.
However, as per Fichajes, Ten Hag is looking to bring in another top-class custodian in Porto’s Diogo Costa “to further raise the competitive level” of his goalkeeping department. So much so, Man Utd will be open to shelling out a staggering €70 million for Costa’s arrival this summer.
Regarded as one of the game’s top young goalkeepers and having long been watched by Europe’s elite, the 23-year-old is coming off the back of another fine campaign and was a key part of Sergio Conceicao’s side last season, keeping 20 clean sheets in 41 matches across all competitions as the Portuguese giants finished second behind Benfica in the Primeira Liga standings.
His performances have helped him claim the number one spot in the Portugal senior team, where he is now preferred ahead of veteran Rui Patricio. The Portugal international’s current Porto contract, which still has four years left to run on it, contains a release clause worth around €75 million.
This rumour doesn’t make any sense and should definitely be taken with a bucket of salt. United have long admired Costa, but this one at this time just stinks of a rumour planted purposefully by the player’s agent to drum-up interest in his client, or the selling club just desperate to offload their prized asset to potential takers for a good price amid financial stress.
Although having strength in depth in every department is vital for a club of Manchester United’s stature, they are having to manage their spending this summer due to Financial Fair Play and the protracted takeover speculation.
Having spent a big portion of their fixed budget on Mason Mount, Andre Onana, and Rasmus Hojlund (imminent), they are already in sell-to-buy mode and can’t just splash around a €70 million quid on a second-choice goalkeeper for fun, more so when other areas of the squad require proper addressing first, including defensive midfield.
Recent reports suggest Manchester United may move for Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat, who impressed in Morocco’s run to the Qatar 2022 World Cup semi-finals and would cost about £30 million. But the move for the defensive midfielder is only possible towards the end of the transfer window, should the club raise enough finance from player sales.
We have to look at Manchester United’s transfer business with a lot of scepticism as the Club portrays itself to be financially tight, but the media associating with continued targeting of players despite already buying sufficient new players for key areas, beggars belief.
Unless, there is quiet development on the buyover process which is brewing but kept unreported perhaps to complete its conclusion on way or the other.
We fans, can only hope that this happy situation is happening and the club hierarchy announces the good news at a media event.