Diogo Costa may have played his final game for FC Porto with reports suggesting that Manchester United could trigger the Premier League-linked goalkeeper’s release clause this summer.
With Sergio Conceicao’s side taking on Braga in the Taca de Portugal final this weekend, you’d have been forgiven for assuming this would be a fitting stage for Diogo Costa to bring down the curtain on his career at the Estadio do Dragao outfit.
But, as A Bola point out, Conceicao’s rotation policy means 31-year-old Claudio Ramos is likely to start between the sticks against Braga. Ramos is, after all, Porto’s ‘cup keeper’.
So unless the former Nantes boss gets cold feet and opts to hand Costa his first Taca de Portugal appearance of the season, Saturday’s 3-0 Primeira Liga triumph over Vitoria de Guimaraes is likely to have been the coveted glovesman’s final appearance in Porto colours.
Will Diogo Costa replace David de Gea at Manchester United
The rather forlorn expression on Costa’s face at full-time, meanwhile, did not pass A Bola by. This did not appear to be your usual end-of-season farewell. More a ‘goodbye’ than a ‘see you later’ perhaps.
“Diogo Costa’s cycle at the service of FC Porto will come to an end,” they write. “The 23-year-old goalkeeper should continue his career in the Premier League.”
Chelsea have been linked. Is there a single player in European football not on a Todd Boehly shopping list longer than the Bayeux Tapestry?
Manchester United, however, appear to be at the front of the queue; The Telegraph reporting that the Red Devils have scouted both him and Brentford’s David Raya as Ten Hag sets his sights on a more technically-gifted, ball-playing goalkeeper.
£65 million very well spent
United, A Bola add, could soon trigger Costa’s £65 million release clause. Although any deal may be dependent on player sales and whether or not the Glazers ever make a decision regarding their ownership of the Old Trafford giants.
The rumoured £30 million departure of Dean Henderson to Nottingham Forest would free up funds – and a place in Ten Hag’s spot – for arguably the finest young glovesman in the game.
“For me, he is the new Vitor Baia, who was once one of the best in the history of Portuguese football. If not the best,” Porto legend Ljubinko Drulovic tells O Jogo.
A move to Manhcester would see Costa reunite with Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and potentially Goncalo Ramos too.
“Diogo Costa is usually in the Portuguese national team and has a lot of quality. He is a young man with excellent potential. A very big asset for FC Porto,” Drulovic adds.
“He will be sold sooner or later, because he has a lot of interest.”