Chelsea hold fresh Diogo Costa talks after £42m Man United transfer decision
Chelsea has identified Diogo Costa as a summer target for the goalkeeper position following Edouard Mendy's move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia. Despite wanting Kepa Arrizabalaga to remain as the No.1 goalkeeper, Mauricio Pochettino is open to bringing in competition for the position. Initially, Mike Maignan, Andre Onana, and David Raya were considered options, but their price tags led Chelsea to explore alternative options.
The Blues have now placed Gregor Kobel, Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Diogo Costa on their shortlist. It appears that significant progress has been made in the pursuit of Diogo Costa, with Manchester United also previously interested in the player but now focusing on Onana. It is reported that Chelsea has held fresh talks with Costa in recent days, with agent Jorge Mendes also involved in the negotiations. However, Porto is proving to be a tough negotiator, and they have set a firm asking price for Costa's potential transfer.
Portuguese outlet A Bola, quoted by Sport Witness, has suggested that Porto could demand around €75 million (£64.2 million) for Costa's departure. If Chelsea were to meet this price, it would make Costa the second-most expensive goalkeeper of all time, behind Kepa Arrizabalaga. Negotiations are ongoing, and Mendes is trying to facilitate a deal for Chelsea, but the price stance from Porto is making progress difficult.
The departure of Edouard Mendy has emphasized the need for Chelsea to secure a new goalkeeper. Pochettino, along with goalkeeping coach Toni Jimenez, believes that Kepa can improve under their guidance and provide strong competition for the starting spot. However, the club is still exploring potential options and has identified Diogo Costa as a promising candidate.
The pursuit of Diogo Costa has become more favorable for Chelsea as Manchester United has shifted their focus to Andre Onana. This could give Chelsea a clearer path to securing Costa's services. Fresh talks have taken place, indicating the ongoing negotiations between the player, the clubs, and agent Jorge Mendes. However, Porto is standing firm on their asking price, and their tough negotiating stance is posing challenges to reaching an agreement.
The potential transfer fee for Costa, rumored to be around €75 million, would make him one of the most expensive goalkeepers in history. Chelsea will need to decide whether they are willing to meet Porto's asking price to secure their desired shot-stopper. Negotiations are ongoing, and the involvement of agent Jorge Mendes adds an additional layer to the discussions.
In summary, Chelsea has targeted Diogo Costa as a potential summer signing for the goalkeeper position following Edouard Mendy's departure. Manchester United was also interested but is now pursuing Andre Onana. Negotiations are ongoing, but Porto's firm asking price presents challenges. The involvement of agent Jorge Mendes adds further complexity to the talks. Chelsea is considering whether to meet Porto's rumored €75 million asking price, which would make Costa one of the most expensive goalkeepers in history.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0