In a stunning blow to Manchester United's summer rebuild plans, Portuguese giants FC Porto have publicly slammed the door shut on any potential transfer for their star goalkeeper, Diogo Costa.
The club's president, Pinto da Costa, issued a defiant and unequivocal hands-off warning, declaring the 24-year-old is not for sale 'for any price' during this transfer window. This firm stance throws a significant spanner in the works for Erik ten Hag, who had identified Costa as a primary target to provide elite competition for current number one Andre Onana.
The President's Unwavering Stance
The transfer speculation, which had been building for weeks, was decisively quashed by the Porto chief. He stated, 'I've already told them that he is not for sale. We will not sell him, not for any price.' This absolute refusal suggests United's interest, and any potential £65 million bid, is completely dead in the water.
This development is a major test of United's new recruitment strategy under the INEOS regime, highlighting the challenges of negotiating with notoriously tough dealers like Porto.
Why United Wanted Costa
The Red Devils' interest was far from superficial. Diogo Costa is widely regarded as one of the most complete and promising goalkeepers in European football. His profile as a modern, ball-playing sweeper-keeper seemed a perfect fit for Ten Hag's system.
His potential arrival was seen not just as cover, but as a move to create a formidable duo that would push Onana to new heights and provide top-tier security between the posts. With doubts lingering over Onana's inconsistent debut season, the pursuit of Costa was a clear signal of intent to solidify a problematic position.
What This Means for United's Transfer Window
This public rejection forces United to go back to the drawing board. With the Costa deal now seemingly impossible, the club's hierarchy must swiftly identify alternative targets.
The search will now focus on other goalkeepers who can fulfil a similar role without commanding a starting berth immediately. This setback also means valuable time and resources must be redirected, potentially impacting other areas of the squad that need reinforcement, such as defence and attack.
For now, United's hunt for a new goalkeeper has suffered a massive, very public setback, all thanks to the iron will of a president who refuses to budge.
