Chelsea pushing to sign Man Utd target Diogo Costa

After dispatching second-string goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli, Chelsea have joined Manchester United in the race to sign Porto star Diogo Costa.

The in-demand shot-stopper is awaiting a resolution on his future amid relentless efforts from the Premier League to take him away from the Estadio do Dragao.

While the Red Devils had long been the front-runners to capture the 23-year-old’s signature, the Blues have recently taken the driver’s seat, according to A Bola.

Unlike Man United, who are strapped for cash amid the uncertainty surrounding their long-awaited takeover, Chelsea won’t hesitate to match Costa’s substantial €75 million release clause.

New manager Mauricio Pochettino is keen to find a more reliable goalkeeper ahead of the 2023/24 campaign to assume Kepa Arrizabalaga’s post between the sticks.

Despite returning to Stamford Bridge’s good grace towards the tail-end of last season, the Spaniard’s mistakes from the past still threaten to ruin his career in London.

Pochettino has identified Costa as a perfect successor, but despite Chelsea’s lavish spending under the new management, they’d still try to drive the Portuguese goalie’s price down.

It seems super-agent Jorge Mendes has gained permission to broker the player’s switch to London after taking a dozen of his clients to the Premier League, specifically Wolverhampton Wanderers.

For a change, he’ll try to arrange a deal with another club, with Chelsea hoping to benefit from the agent’s strong relationship with Porto and Costa to get over the line.

Costa is reportedly happy in his homeland and wouldn’t mind spending another year in the Primeira Liga, with his long-term contract allowing manager Sergio Conceicao to believe that may happen.

Porto have no reason to budge on their stance, considering the goalkeeper’s deal runs out in 2027.

The pressure is on Chelsea to piece together a bid tempting enough to convince last season’s Primeira Liga runners-up to sanction a move.