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Once a Manchester United and City transfer target, Diogo Costa has explained how he feels on a move to the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola reportedly showed an interest in the Porto number one over the summer, as speculation was rife over the future of first-choice shot stopper Ederson. There was said to be interest in the Brazilian's services from the Saudi Pro League over the recent window, with back-up goalie Stefan Ortega only adding fuel to the fire when he signed a new contract keeping him at the Etihad until 2026.
Any rumours of a move to the north west for Costa were extinguished at the end of the window however, at least for the foreseeable future, with Ederson showing his allegiance to City. He's tied to Guardiola's side until July 2026 and will look to add a seventh Premier League title to his name as the 2024/25 season progresses.
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Costa was also said to have been looked at by Erik ten Hag's Manchester United set-up before the Red Devils swooped in for Andre Onana in last year's summer transfer window in a reported £43.8million deal with Inter Milan. However, his maiden campaign at Old Trafford proved far from fruitful, with United finishing in a record-low eight place in 2023/24 - Onana keeping just nine clean sheets despite his best efforts.
Costa, 25, broke through Porto's youth academy in 2017, signing his first senior contract with the Primera Liga's B-team. However, he was called up to the first team in 2019, going on to keep 69 clean sheets in 164 appearances overall. At international level, Costa has also played for his native Portugal on 29 occasions - called up by Roberto Martinez during this summer's Euro 2024 tournament.
He managed to make it to the quarter finals of the competition, before being knocked out by France on penalties in the cruellest possible fashion. Ten Hag also got a close view of Costa's capabilities earlier this week, when Manchester United held Porto to a 3-3 draw at the Estádio do Dragão in the Europa Conference League.
With Ederson's City contract expiring in two years, and Onana struggling to find a good run of form with United, Guardiola and Ten Hag may consider snapping up Costa in the near future to help bolster their respective squads. However, the star keeper won't come cheap - with Porto reportedly asking for his £62.5million release clause to let him walk.
Either manager may also have some work to do to tempt the keeper away from his boyhood club, which he has showed an abundance of loyalty to over the years. In a recent interview with the BBC, Costa explained: "What I always say is true - if I never leave Porto, the club I love and learned to play football in, then I will be a happy guy, but we all know what is the life of a footballer."
However, the fierce Manchester rivals aren't the only two clubs who have had costa on their radar as of recent. Chelsea were also linked with a move for the goalkeeper over the summer, despite being well-equipped between the sticks with the likes of Robert Sanchez and Filip Jorgensen.
Porto currently sit second in the Primera Liga standings after seven matches played. They have six wins and a single loss to their name, and sit a mere three points below flawless league leaders Sporting CP. Meanwhile, City sit at second in the Premier League at the time of writing, a point behind Liverpool in the standings. Manchester United are currently in a dismal 13th place, with two wins, one draw and three losses from their opening six games.
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