Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea have announced two new signings over the weekend and are close to confirming two more. Now, out of the blue, Chelsea are in advanced talks for a new goalkeeper.
Danny Welbeck was the first of a flurry of incoming transfer news as BlueCo and Xabi Alonso step up their progress in the transfer window, as the squad arrive in Hong Kong for the next stage of their pre-season.
After Welbeck, the long-awaited announcement of Valentin Barco was made. The pocket-sized midfielder has completed a move from Strasbourg after impressing in France, with a £34m fee set to change hands.
Jordan Henderson is set to come in at any point, with the midfielder having been released by Brentford a year early from his contract. On Sunday, reports in Spain said Chelsea are closing in on Pep Chavarria.
Now, Chelsea are in advanced talks for Porto’s Diogo Costa
It sees Alonso bring in competition for Joao Pedro, depth in midfield after the loss of Andrey Santos in Barco and Henderson, and a replacement for Marc Cucurella at left-back. It is all coming together.
FC Porto v CD Santa Clara - Primeira Liga
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But at the end of the season, a priority for most was a new goalkeeper even if Mike Penders was set to return from Strasbourg. Now, Portuguese reporter Pedro Almeida says Chelsea are close to another.
He claims that Chelsea are in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Portugal’s no.1 goalkeeper Diogo Costa from Porto. A deal that will almost certainly see Chelsea sign a new no.1, placing Robert Sanchez’s future in doubt.
Well-respected journalist Almeida posted on X, simply saying that Chelsea are now in advanced talks for the 26-year-old shot-stopper: “Breaking: Advanced talks between Chelsea and Porto for Diogo Costa.”
FC Porto v FC Famalicao - Liga Portugal Betclic
Photo by Miguel Lemos/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Diogo Costa: Porto goalkeeper’s career in numbers and price tag
Having come through Porto’s academy, Costa has clocked up an enormous 247 appearances for the Portuguese giants. In that time, he has kept a whopping 109 clean sheets, becoming Portugal’s no.1.
Already, 48-time Portugal international, Costa is considered one of the best goalkeepers yet to make the move to one of Europe’s top-five leagues. He has a contract at Porto until the summer of 2030.
Diogo Costa's and Robert Sanchez's stats
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Last October, Costa actually signed an extension with Porto which saw the Liga NOS champions increase his release clause from £34m to around £55m, as per the Record. But that seems to have been overcome.
It is unclear if Chelsea are paying the full release clause to sign Costa, but given the length remaining on his deal, there is every chance Chelsea may have bitten the bullet and decided to exercise the clause.