Chelsea calls Manchester United's bluff with a £64.5 million proposal following Erik ten Hag's move.
Chelsea have made a U-turn and are ready to compete with Manchester United for Porto's in-demand goalkeeper Diogo Costa, while the Red Devils shuffle their options with Andre Onana also on their radar.
United, who have presented a new offer to De Gea, have yet to receive a response from the goalkeeper, who is not performing at his peak. According to the Daily Mail, if he leaves, Costa is top on their list of successors, and they were willing to pay his asking price. Inter Milan's Andre Onana, who previously worked with Erik ten Hag at Ajax, is also a goal, and negotiations between the two parties are now underway.
Onana was also on Chelsea's radar, but they just dropped out, giving United a clear road. During that period, though, they were negotiating a contract to sign Costa from Porto and, according to the Portuguese newspaper A Bola, were planning to pay his release clause in installments.
If that deal is accepted, United may be left biting their wounds, particularly if Inter refuse to trade Onana and De Gea walks on, which would be a terrible scenario. Dean Henderson, De Gea's previous No. 2, is also likely to move on a permanent basis.
Chelsea is concerned that their FFP position may impede its transfer efforts, but they are hoping that three instalments of £21.5 million will suffice.
will be sufficient to persuade Porto to sell. When they signed Enzo Fernandez to a British record deal in January, they used this strategy.
After taking over at Stamford Bridge, Mauricio Pochettino is examining his squad. The current goalkeepers, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy, have both failed to achieve the number one place. This summer, Mendy has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.
According to sources, Pochettino preferred Kepa and was willing to back the Spaniard, but new rumors claim that he wants to bring Costa on board while keeping Kepa as his deputy.
Chelsea's summer recruitment could be boosted by a large exodus that raises a lot of money. Hakim Ziyech may follow Mendy to Saudi Arabia, while Arsenal has agreed a fee in excess of £60 million for German playmaker Kai Havertz.
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