Chelsea are eyeing Porto shot-stopper Diogo Costa as a transfer option in the coming weeks.
The Blues are ahead of all teams interested in the goalkeeper and as expected to make contact with the Portuguese club sooner rather than later. Costa has a release clause of £64 million, but Porto might be willing to let him go for just a few million pounds shy of that price.
Reports from Chelsea state that incoming head coach Mauricio Pochettino is expected to keep on Kepa Arrizabalaga as his first-choice man between the sticks, but he has sounded to Kepa that he might not be doing so without competition. Chelsea have been looking at a few goalkeepers to cover for the Spanish keeper this season, and maybe take over his mantle in the next one.
Chelsea had earlier been looking at Inter’s Andre Onana as a real choice to come to Stamford Bridge, but his deal with Manchester United is all but done, so signing him would be a long shot for the club. However, Mike Maignan of AC Milan has been informed of Chelsea’s interest – he along with Diogo Costa are the front runners for Kepa’s counter at the club this season.
Costa, at just 23 years of age, has been touted to be the best goalkeeper in Portugal. He fits all the criteria of a modern-day elite goalkeeper. In Portugal, the opinion of him is that his talent doesn’t have a set ceiling, and can go on to become the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the country. With a passing accuracy of 77% and over 7 accurate long balls per game, he is suited for a possession-based playing style.
While it is unlikely that Chelsea is going to break the bank and pay his release clause, they could negotiate a deal with Porto that works for both parties. Bringing the talented keeper to Stamford Bridge would be a call-out to the squad, Pochettino’s way of saying ‘no one’s place in the team is secure.’
