€45m Porto player becomes a complicated target for Barcelona | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have been rather insistent about the kind of signings they have made in recent seasons. Keeping in mind their limitations, La Blaugrana have been focused on signing players at low costs if possible. From free signings to even temporary loans, Barcelona have found their way around their restrictions.

Furthermore, even the addition of several La Masia talents into the first team has helped them ease their pain of not being able to invest too much into the transfer market. However, there are times when investments become necessary, and Barcelona believe they may have reached that point.

Within the Catalan club, there is now a belief that a medium-term replacement for German goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen must now be seriously considered. While they trust the current Barcelona captain and are awaiting his return from injury, the rationality of the matter leads them to consider potential options.

One of the players who is quite liked within the sports department is FC Porto’s Diogo Costa. The 25-year-old Portuguese goalkeeper is seen as a great option both because of his quality and his rather young age for a player in his position. However, things have now suddenly become a lot more complicated when it comes to his signing.

As highlighted by SPORT, as well as by other Portuguese reports, English Premier League side Manchester City has now entered the picture. The Manchester-based club wants Diogo Costa as a future replacement for Ederson, and they are willing to spend a significant amount on him.

While the player has an active release clause of €75 million, Man City is reportedly willing to offer only upto €40 million to Porto. However, as per the report, the Portuguese side may even take up that offer and be willing to sell the player to the English side.

Unfortunately for Barcelona, competing with Manchester City on the basis of financial strength is simply not a good move right now. However, there are some things that are still in Barça’s favor. One such thing could involve the rights they still hold over Nico Gonzalez and how they could use it to negotiate a lower price for Costa as well.

For now, however, it would appear that English club has advanced negotiations for the player. They realize that the goalkeeper could be a key addition to the team they are building for the future, and the financial aspect of the deal clearly favors them over a Barcelona side that believe the €45 million-rated goalkeeper is a bit expensive for them at the moment.