Manchester City have reportedly identified Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa as Ederson’s replacement if the Brazilian were to leave the club this summer. The City number 31 has been heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, and while Pep Guardiola would like to keep him, his future at Manchester is uncertain.
Keeping Ederson’s possible departure in mind, Man City seem to have settled on the 24-year-old as the perfect replacement for the Brazilian. Costa is an excellent shot-stopper and is comfortable on the ball, something which Guardiola requires in a keeper. While his on-the-ball skills are not as good as Ederson’s, his shot-stopping abilities can be considered superior to the 30-year-old’s.
According to the Portuguese newspaper O Jogo, Porto may be forced to sell one of their star players this summer to raise funds. As of now, Costa seems the likely player to be sold by the Portuguese giants.
Plenty of clubs will be competing with City to secure the Portugal international’s signature. Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool are all reported to be interested in Costa. While his preferred destination is not known as of now, one thing is certain: he will be an expensive buy for whichever club secures him.
Costa has a £63 million release clause in his contract, and Porto are unlikely to settle for anything less than that. While this is an expensive fee to pay for a goalkeeper, his performances have justified that this price isn’t a large overpayment for his abilities. While this move is entirely dependent on Ederson’s future at the club, Costa would be an excellent addition. With the Brazilian’s contract running till 2026, City should be able to get a decent fee for him, making Costa’s acquisition relatively cheaper.
The upcoming Euros will be a perfect platform for City to scout Costa, with the 24-year-old having solidified himself as Portugal’s number one.
