Newcastle United will now have to pay a club-record £65 million fee if they want to bring Portugal international Diogo Costa to the Premier League, Fabrizio Romano reporting that the Porto goalkeeper has signed a new deal with an enhanced release clause.
This season alone, one of the world’s best up-and-coming ‘keepers broke not one but two Champions League records.
During October’s 3-0 hammering of Bayer Leverkusen, Costa became the first player to save a penalty and set up a goal in the same UCL match; assisting Evanilson with a wondrous 80 yard pass before keeping out a Kerem Demirbay spot-kick.
At the same time, he also became the first ever to save three penalties in a single Champions League campaign. Costa, then, is a man with plenty of strings to his bow. An expert penalty saver, and arguably the best ball-playing goalkeeper to emerge in Portugal since Ederson Moraes’ formative years at Benfica.
Manchester United and Newcastle like Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa
“Diogo Costa is becoming a world-class goalkeeper,” says former Porto ace Iker Casillas. “He’s a star. He’s going to be a great goalkeeper.”
According to Vitor Baia, Porto legend-turned-vice-president, there is no ‘becoming’ about it. Costa, he says, already belongs at the top of the tree.
“He is already the best in the world!” Baia claims.
Per JN, 23-year-old Costa is on Newcastle’s radar; the Magpies potentially viewing him as a more modern, ball-playing alternative to Nick Pope between the sticks. Manchester United, meanwhile, see the Swiss-born giant as a potential David de Gea replacement (The Athletic).
The Premier League duo would have to put their money where their mouth is, however; the ink drying on a new contract running until 2027. It feels highly unlikely Costa will stay at Porto for another five years. What that new deal does, however, is ensure Porto can demand a fee that would make Costa the second-most expensive goalkeeper of all time. Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga is currently in top spot..
His new release clause stands at £65 million. That is £5 million more than Newcastle paid for Alexander Isak over the summer. Isak, upon arriving from Real Sociedad, became the club’s record signing.
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