Diogo Costa closer… to FC Porto, Chelsea interest ‘played down’ | OneFootball

Diogo Costa staying at FC Porto is becoming an increasingly real possibility. According to the American outlet The Athletic on Tuesday, sources connected to Chelsea’s hierarchy have “played down” the rumors that, in recent weeks, pointed to alleged interest from the London club in the Portuguese international goalkeeper.

According to the same report, the blues’ priority at this stage is to significantly reduce the size of the first-team squad. The club believes that operation could bring in more than £300 million (€350.4 million), a sum considered essential to ensure compliance with financial fair play rules.

This intention also aligns with Xabi Alonso’s wishes, as he wants to work with a much smaller group. The Spanish coach, for example, does not want more than four or five center-backs, having found ten players in that position at the start of pre-season.

The former Real Madrid coach is also said to be satisfied with the options available in goal. Robert Sánchez is expected to remain first choice, with Mike Penders taking on the role of backup. Teddy Sharman-Lowe, who has delivered when called upon, is expected to occupy third place in the pecking order.

Filip Jorgensen, on the other hand, is not part of the plans and was left out of Chelsea’s training camp in Asia with the aim of finding a new club. For now, the possibility of a loan move to Strasbourg is gaining momentum, with the French side, like Chelsea, being owned by the American consortium BlueCo.

“I want to keep winning titles with FC Porto, but…”

Diogo Costa has meanwhile spoken about his future. The goalkeeper broke his silence at the end of last week in an interview with RTP conducted before the Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup clash against Torreense, played at the Cidade de Coimbra Stadium and won 1-0 by ‘his’ FC Porto.

“I’m very happy here, I really want to keep winning titles with FC Porto, but we all know what the life of a professional player is like. It’s something I can’t promise; what I can promise is work and commitment, and that’s how it has always been since I started playing for the first team,” he began.

“That question is always a ‘headline’... I’ve been linked with leaving this club for some time now, but, as I’ve done until now, all I can say is that I’m very happy here and, while I’m here, I’ll always be the same player and the same person,” added the goalkeeper, who, it should be noted, is under contract until June 2030.

After the final whistle, Italian coach Francesco Farioli did not guarantee Diogo Costa’s stay, nor that of Victor Froholdt: “They are two very important players for us, but we know what the market is like and we know the difficulties of a period when the market is open.”

“The opportunities that may arise, and we see the numbers that are being mentioned, especially in the Premier League market. I think both are happy and want to stay. Victor made his position very clear at the end of the season and did the same this year. It’s the same with Diogo, so I believe, hope and wish that they stay with us for the whole season,” he concluded.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.