Xabi Alonso wants Diogo Costa as Chelsea weigh triggering the goalkeeper’s €60m release clause.
Xabi Alonso’s side are edging closer to a decision. They must decide whether to trigger the €60 million release clause for Diogo Costa at Porto. In fact, the latest transfer news from Chelsea suggests this search for a goalkeeper may finally end soon. The Blues see him as the signing that could complete their rebuild.
Diogo Costa Emerges as Alonso’s Top Goalkeeper Target
As reported by the Mirror, Alonso views the Porto number one as the answer to his goalkeeper problem. The Spanish coach wants a keeper who can build play calmly from the back. Diogo Costa fits that role well. Going forward, the coming weeks should show whether this plan works under pressure.
The 26-year-old has been Porto’s first choice for years. He also has 48 international caps to his name. He has already extended his contract. Even so, the release clause remains in place this summer.
As reported by Sports Mole, Manchester United once watched him as a long-term option too. However, a move to a fellow Premier League club now looks more likely. A fresh approach from Old Trafford could still complicate matters. This is especially true if it pushes Porto to hold firm on their price.
From a neutral standpoint, the numbers support this interest. He has kept a high number of clean sheets over the past two seasons. He also rarely looks rattled under pressure. This is the type of calm Alonso wants at the back.
Diogo Costa for Porto in 2025/26, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Clean Sheets Saves
Liga Portugal 33 19 60
Taca de Portugal 4 2 6
Europa League 12 3 29
Release Clause Talks Could Define Chelsea’s Summer
As reported by CaughtOffside, the Blues have already strengthened several areas this window. They brought in Maxence Lacroix, Morgan Rogers and Jordan Henderson, among others. Still, a proper first-choice goalkeeper remains the one gap left in the squad rebuild.
Robert Sanchez has held the gloves in recent seasons. Yet he has never won over the doubters. Filip Jorgensen has also featured as backup. He struggled in a Champions League game against PSG, and that mistake has stuck with him since. Neither man has locked down the jersey. As a result, the back four has looked unsettled this season.
Currently, as reported by AOL, the west London club have offered around €40million. That figure sits well below what Porto want. Porto, meanwhile, are unlikely to accept anything less than the full fee. This is especially true after a strong World Cup from Diogo Costa.
Financially, the timing looks tricky too. Chelsea have already spent heavily on football deals this summer. Adding a £51million goalkeeper on top would still be one of the biggest single fees of Alonso’s rebuild.
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What a Diogo Costa Deal Means for the Blues
Speaking after Porto’s Super Cup win over Torreense, the goalkeeper addressed the transfer talk directly. He said,“I’ve been linked with leaving this club for some time now. As I’ve done up to now, what I can say is that I’m very happy here.”
Still, he left the door open. He admitted that nothing in football is ever fully guaranteed. That honesty has only fuelled the speculation, especially with Chelsea still short on options between the posts.
A deal like this would not come cheap. Yet the Blues have lacked a truly world-class shot-stopper for years. Their last one, Thibaut Courtois, departed for Real Madrid back in 2018. Ultimately, this decision may come down to timing rather than money alone. Diogo Costa could finally end that long wait, should Alonso’s plan come together.
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