From Portugal: Man City credited with strong interest in Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa | OneFootball

Manchester City have been credited with strong interest in Porto captain and Portugal international Diogo Costa this summer, as per reports in Portugal.

Costa has established himself as one of the finest goalkeepers in European football over the course of the past two seasons, with his performances for Porto and at international level combining to make him among the most coveted players in his position ahead of what could prove to be the most significant transfer window of his career.

The Portugal international has been one of the standout performers of the f in North America, claiming the Player of the Match award in Portugal‘s group stage victory over Colombia and further reinforcing a reputation built on his extraordinary ability as a shot-stopper and his remarkable composure under penalty-shootout pressure.

Manchester City‘s interest in the 26-year-old is understood to be shaped in part by the uncertain future of James Trafford at the Etihad Stadium, with the England international set to hold discussions with new manager Enzo Maresca over his squad status before any final decision on his future is made.

A departure for Trafford would leave director of football Hugo Viana with a clear requirement to recruit in the goalkeeping position, and 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 at the Etihad Stadium.

Report: City & PSG credited with strong interest as Porto stay firm

As reported by Correio da Manhã and relayed by Sport Witness, Costa could leave Porto after the World Cup following “strong interest” from Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain – and that the goalkeeper’s performances at the tournament have only added to expectations that this summer could finally deliver the move his career trajectory has long pointed toward.

The report arrives in the context of sustained Portuguese media coverage of Costa’s situation, with outlets, including Record, having 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 further as the tournament progresses.

Porto reduced Costa’s release clause to £51 million when the goalkeeper signed a new contract earlier this year, though Portuguese reports have suggested the club would still expect offers comfortably above that figure before seriously entertaining a sale, with Porto continuing to insist publicly that they have no intention of losing their captain at this stage.

Correio da Manhã describe Costa as Portugal’s biggest weapon heading into their last-16 fixture against Croatia – a tie in which 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.

What would Costa’s arrival mean for Man City’s goalkeeping setup?

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 – before producing another decisive penalty denial less than a year later 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 figure.

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.