Chelsea target Porto goalkeeper Costa with £51m release clause

The Blues have identified Costa as a target, following earlier interest from Manchester United in the Porto number one, per the Daily Mirror.

Costa's release clause sits at £51m, a relatively straightforward fee in modern football that would give Chelsea a clear pathway to negotiations should they decide to activate it.

The 25-year-old has established himself as one of Europe's more promising goalkeepers and represents a long-term investment for a Chelsea side that has been searching for stability between the posts. Porto have built their recent success partly on a platform of strong defensive recruitment, and Costa has been integral to that.

His experience in the Champions League and Portuguese top flight adds appeal, though any move would likely involve convincing him to leave an environment where he's a key player to take on a fresh challenge in the Premier League.

Whether Chelsea pursue the deal formally remains to be seen, but the interest signals their intent to refresh their goalkeeper position heading into the new season.