Porto’s Alberto Costa is being watched by four clubs, though none has made an offer.
Manchester United - Man Utd
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Alberto Costa has impressed at Porto since arriving from Juventus last summer. The Red Devils are among the clubs taking notice, and Arsenal are watching closely too. Yet Man United face a hefty €65m release clause, as per latest transfer news.
Alberto Costa Draws Interest After a Strong Porto Debut
As reported by CaughtOffside, Alberto Costa is on the radar of Man United and Arsenal. Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City are also interested. So far, nobody has tabled an offer, and each club is still weighing him up. Interest therefore remains at a preliminary stage.
The 23-year-old defender joined from Juventus in July 2025 for €15m plus add-ons. His spell in Italy had been short, with 14 appearances and no goals. Porto proved a more suitable move, because he played 47 times last season and set up eight league goals. No other defender in the division managed more, and the club won its first league title in four years.
His form has carried into the new campaign as well. Porto have won every league game so far and conceded only three times, with Alberto Costa a regular in defence. Porto continue to select him, with five starts in their opening six games and a full 90 minutes against Manchester City in the Champions League.
Alberto Costa for Porto in 2025/26, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Assists Duels Won(%) Defensive Contributions
Liga Portugal 29 8 51% 153
League Cup 1 0 100% 3
Taca de Portugal 6 0 39% 6
Europa League 11 0 54% 51
Why the Release Clause Complicates an Alberto Costa Deal
Any move for Alberto Costa faces a serious obstacle in his Porto contract. That deal runs until June 2030 and carries a €65m release clause. That is more than four times what Porto paid Juventus last summer. As a result, the Portuguese champions are in a strong position.
Juventus will also receive a tenth of any profit from a later sale, so Porto may hold firm on price. In addition, the club has no reason to sell cheaply, because the player is settled and successful. That is a significant outlay for a player with only one full season at this level. Clubs would typically need complete conviction in a player before paying a clause of this size.
Competition adds another layer. Paris Saint-Germain reportedly considered an approach earlier this year, and Manchester City are also watching. Because of that, a quiet, cut-price deal looks unlikely. For now, Alberto Costa is best viewed as a shortlist option rather than a live negotiation.
What Each Club Could Gain from the Move
For Man United, the appeal is easy to see. Diogo Dalot is still the first choice on the right, yet the club are back in the Champions League. That means real depth will matter in that position, especially over a long season. A young full-back who can attack and recover quickly fits the current recruitment plan well.
Arsenal’s case is somewhat different. Mikel Arteta favours flexible defenders, and Alberto Costa fits that idea as he can join attacks or sit deeper. His defensive numbers are modest rather than elite, but they look good enough for Arteta’s system. Jurrien Timber and Ben White already cover that side. So this would be more about long-term planning than an urgent fix.
Still, the price and the step up in level remain real concerns. English football is physically demanding, and the Premier League tends to test young defenders quickly. If the right-back keeps developing at Porto, a deal next summer could feel far easier to justify than one in January. A patient approach may suit both clubs.
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