“Sanchez upgrade” – Chelsea want £58m star who’d be their best since Courtois left
CaughtOffside says that Chelsea is still interested in Diogo Costa, the goalkeeper for Porto. To replace Manuel Neuer, who is thinking about retiring at the end of this season, the Blues may have competition for the 25-year-old goalie, though, as Bayern Munich also seems interested in Costa.
Costa has played 15,111 minutes in 167 games for Porto, giving up just 142 goals while recording 71 clean sheets. He has now earned 31 caps for Portugal, making him the country’s top player.
According to sources, the highly sought-after player would cost about £58 million, but he might be the long-term solution Chelsea has been searching for since losing Courtois in 2018. He combines exceptional goalkeeping skills with relaxed on-ball abilities.
Robert Sanchez vs Diogo Costa comparison
Sanchez was signed by Chelsea in 2023, joining from Brighton for around £25m. He was quickly replaced as the number one last season, with Mauricio Pochettino preferring Djordje Petrovic between the sticks, after Sanchez made multiple errors leading to goals early in the campaign.
However, with Enzo Maresca’s appointment, Sanchez has found himself reinstated as the Chelsea number one, with the Italian manager wanting composure on the ball from his goalkeeper, and a willingness to play out from the back, sticking to the gameplan, and not panicking on the ball.
Costa, who has been described as “superman” by Jacek Kulig, has a higher clean sheet rate, fewer goals against, and a better pass completion percentage than Chelsea’s Sanchez. The Spanish goalkeeper is making more saves per 90, but this is also due to the 5.22 shots being conceded per 90, compared to the 2.81 against Costa per 90.
One positive Sanchez does have over Costa, is his ability to prevent crosses, and provide the team with high claims/punches, due to his 6 foot 5 frame. Costa, on the other hand, is just 6 foot 1, opting to stay on his line more often, and trust his reactions with shots from crosses.
Whilst he may not have the height of Sanchez or Courtois, Costa could be exactly what Chelsea need, in order to aid the build-up from the back, whilst also providing the defenders with the assurance and protection if shots do make it on goal.
The goalkeeping department has been a problem position for a number of years now at Stamford Bridge, yet the Porto titan could represent the long-awaited solution.