Manchester United 'willing to pay £65m release clause for Diogo Costa' and more transfer rumours

Diogo Costa is reportedly set to leave Porto this summer, with Manchester United said to be frontrunners in the race for the goalkeeper.

Portuguese outlet A Bola reports that the Reds are willing to trigger his £65m release clause, apparently being the only Premier League side interested in the 23-year-old. Costa has supposedly impressed those at United after a promising season.

He is now Portugal’s first-choice goalkeeper, featuring at the Qatar World Cup as his country made it to the quarter-finals. The youngster kept 20 clean sheets as his club narrowly missed out on the Liga NOS title to Benfica by two points.

ALSO READ: Erik ten Hag reveals Manchester United target for next season

Questions still hang over the role of David de Gea at United next season. The Spaniard is set for a renewal with reduced terms but Erik ten Hag has refused to categorically name him as his No.1 next season.

When asked by the Times whether De Gea will be at Old Trafford next season, the United boss responded: "Yes, but I will not say he'll always be my No.1 because in a club like Man United there must be competition in all positions.”

Given United are prioritising the additions of a new striker and a new midfielder this summer, it would be a surprise for them to devote £65m of their transfer budget to signing Costa.

Meanwhile, United are looking at alternative striker options after receiving pushback from Tottenham over top target Harry Kane. The England skipper is out of contract next year having yet to win a trophy.

He will not play European football next season if he does stay at Spurs and it seems it will be on the player to force a move with United not willing to play the long game with Daniel Levy.

And so in the urgency for a