Portuguese reports suggest goalkeeper could be on the move this summer
Manchester City have been credited with strong interest in Porto captain and Portugal international Diogo Costa, according to reports in Portugal.
Costa has established himself as one of the finest goalkeepers in European football over the past two seasons. His performances for Porto and at international level have made him among the most coveted players in his position ahead of what could be a significant transfer window.
The 26-year-old has been one of the standout performers at the World Cup in North America, claiming the Player of the Match award in Portugal's group stage victory over Colombia. His reputation as a shot-stopper and his composure under penalty-shootout pressure have only added to expectations that this summer could deliver the move his career has long pointed toward.
City's interest is understood to be shaped in part by the uncertain future of James Trafford at the Etihad Stadium. The England international is set to hold discussions with new manager Enzo Maresca over his squad status before any final decision is made.
A departure for Trafford would leave director of football Hugo Viana with a clear requirement to recruit in the goalkeeping position. Costa's profile — proven at the highest level of club and international football and playing at a club whose financial position makes a sale achievable — fits closely with the type of signing Viana prioritises.
As reported by Correio da Manhã, relayed by Sport Witness, Costa could leave Porto after the World Cup following strong interest from both Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
Porto reduced Costa's release clause to £51 million when the goalkeeper signed a new contract earlier this year. However, Portuguese reports have suggested the club would still expect offers comfortably above that figure before seriously entertaining a sale. Porto continue to insist publicly that they have no intention of losing their captain at this stage.
The report arrives in the context of sustained Portuguese media coverage of Costa's situation. Outlets including Record have repeatedly examined what a post-World Cup transfer could look like, discussing Porto's asking price, the financial logic of selling an academy graduate, and the possibility of his valuation rising as the tournament progresses.
Correio da Manhã describe Costa as Portugal's biggest weapon heading into their last-16 fixture against Croatia. Manager Roberto Martínez intensified penalty practice during training ahead of a potential shootout, with Costa's record from 12 yards making him a uniquely valuable asset should the match require that kind of resolution.
Costa famously became the first goalkeeper in European Championship history to save three penalties in a single shootout when Portugal eliminated Slovenia at the 2024 European Championship. Less than a year later, he produced another decisive penalty denial in the UEFA Nations League final, saving against Álvaro Morata before Portugal secured the trophy.
That reputation for composure in the sport's most pressurised individual moments is precisely the profile Maresca and Viana have identified as essential in the goalkeeping position as they look to assemble a squad capable of competing across multiple fronts in the 2026-27 season.
The Portuguese media's increasingly specific framing of a potential exit — focused on conditions of departure rather than the possibility of one — suggests Porto's public insistence on retaining Costa may not fully reflect the private reality of their position, particularly if offers arrive that significantly exceed his £51 million release clause.
Whether Manchester City are prepared to lead that pursuit in the weeks ahead, or whether the breadth of their summer rebuild requires them to prioritise other positions first, remains to be seen. But with Costa's World Cup form continuing to attract the attention of Europe's biggest clubs, the window available to City to act may prove shorter than the complexity of a deal involving Porto's captain might suggest.