Manchester United transfer news as Diogo Costa's availability leaves United on red-alert to solve one of Ruben Amorim's biggest problems
Diogo Costa
Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa(Image: Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim's hopes of getting his hands on a new goalkeeper at Manchester United this summer have escalated in the past week with a number of names linked with replacing Andre Onana.
The Manchester Evening News understands that Amorim wants a new goalkeeper after being left unimpressed with Onana. The first-choice at Old Trafford hasn't been convincing in his two years at Old Trafford despite some spells of form.
High-profile errors at the wrong time has led to Amorim having doubts over the Cameroon international's future at the club. Back-up goalkeeper Altay Bayindir has also struggled to stake a claim with his performance in the 4-1 drubbing at Newcastle United last season hardly convincing.
United's priority in adding attacking reinforcements in the early stages of the transfer window have placed their pursuit of a new goalkeeper on ice. It, however, hasn't stopped goalkeeper transfer speculation with Aston Villa's Emi Martinez understood to be open to a move to Manchester.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin and highly-rated Atalanta shot-stopper Marco Carnesecchi have also been mentioned as possible candidates to replace Onana. One name that has been supposedly on United's radar for a number of years is Porto's Diogo Costa.
The 25-year-old has been a busy man this summer with him playing a key role in Portugal's Nations League win at the start of the month before featuring twice in Porto's Club World Cup campaign. However, the Dragons crashed out of the competition on Tuesday morning after failing to beat Egyptian side Al Ahly.
Porto's exit has been compounded with reports in Portugal in the aftermath suggesting that Costa 'believes it is time to embrace a new challenge' after achieving all he can with the club. A Bola have claimed the goalkeeper wants to move to a bigger league with United and Manchester City two teams described as being 'very interested'.
Pep Guardiola has already confirmed that Ederson and Stefan Ortega will remain at the club meaning City aren't likely to pursue a move, leaving the door open for United. However, the Portugal number one won't come cheap.
Costa is understood to have a €75million (£63.9m) release clause but Porto could accept around €60m (£51.1m), a fee which is similar to the one United have paid for Matheus Cunha and are about to pay for Bryan Mbeumo.
Portugal and Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa
Portugal and Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa(Image: Diogo Cardoso/Getty Images)
That figure could decrease as the window goes on, especially if Costa begins to push for a move. For United, Costa's numbers are appealing. Last season, he conceded 27 goals compared to Onana's 44 and boasted a better save percentage (74.1%) in comparison to Onana's 68.9%, despite facing 47 less shots on target.
On the ball, Costa also outshines the current number one. The Porto goalkeeper completed 83.1% of his 1222 passes last term compared to Onana's 72.6%. While the pair are very similar in their numbers for short and medium passes (99.5% in both for Costa and 99.1% for Onana), the Portuguese completed 55.7% of his long passes with Onana managing just 36.6%.
All the numbers point towards United drastically improving in the goalkeeper department with Costa inbetween the sticks. But they would have to sell Onana and seek as close to the £47.2m they paid for him.
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