Barcelona will look to sign 25-year-old Portuguese international Diogo Costa from FC Porto as the long-term successor to Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Diogo Costa is the subject of interest from Barcelona. The Catalan giants are laying down the succession plan for Marc-Andre ter Stegen. With the German international on the wrong side of 30, they are planning for life after him, with the 25-year-old FC Porto goalkeeper emerging as the top target.
The rise and rise of Diogo Costa
Diogo Costa has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world since breaking into the first-team squad at FC Porto. A native of Rothrist, he spent his formative years in Portugal and has been with FC Porto since 2011. While he made his senior bow in September 2019, he had to bide his time before becoming the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper.
The 25-year-old has been a mainstay between the sticks for his club and country for a few years, making 29 appearances for Portugal. In addition, Costa has turned out over 150 times thus far for FC Porto while keeping 68 clean sheets and conceding 138 goals.
Meanwhile, Diogo Costa’s exploits for his club and country have not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe. However, the Portuguese international goalkeeper’s next destination might be Barcelona, with the Blaugrana identifying him as the long-term successor to Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Barcelona join Costa chase
Barcelona’s interest in Diogo Costa is understandable. While the Catalan giants are dipping their toes in the market for a goalkeeper as an emergency cover for Marc-Andre ter Stegen after the German international picked up a long-term knee injury last weekend against Villarreal, they should plan for life after the experienced shot-stopper.
Wojciech Szczesny is on the verge of completing a short-term move to Barcelona after coming out of retirement. However, Costa can be the long-term successor to ter Stegen, with a move in the future on the cards.
The Portuguese goalkeeper’s imposing 1.85m frame makes him an ideal candidate to take over from ter Stegen. In addition, the 25-year-old is yet to reach his peak, making him an appealing target for Barcelona.
