Alberto Costa Transfer: Man Utd and Arsenal Scouting £56m Porto Right-Back

Manchester United and Arsenal are reportedly monitoring Porto defender Alberto Costa, according to Caught Offside, after an impressive first season in Portugal.

Costa’s Impressive Porto Form

Costa joined Porto from Juventus last year and settled quickly, contributing one goal and nine assists in 47 appearances across all competitions. Those ten goal involvements from right-back show why English clubs have taken notice.

He was solid defensively too. In the Primeira Liga, he averaged more than five duels won per match, along with roughly two tackles, four recoveries and nearly two clearances.

Release Clause and Sell-On Terms

No formal bid has been made, with both clubs still at the scouting stage. Costa’s Porto contract includes a £56m release clause. Juventus sold him for around £13m and are owed ten per cent of any profit on a future sale.

Do Arsenal and Man Utd Need a Right-Back?

Arsenal have Jurrien Timber and Ben White at right-back. White’s future looked uncertain earlier this summer, but Timber’s injury kept him at the club. Newcastle’s Tino Livramento was reportedly a leading target, though he also picked up an injury, which may have persuaded the Gunners to stand pat.

United, meanwhile, have Diogo Dalot as an undisputed starter, but Noussair Mazraoui could leave in search of more game time. If he does, a new signing to challenge Dalot would make sense.

Our Opinion on the Costa Links

We suspect the speculation may be agent-driven, aimed at tempting a bigger club. Neither side seems likely to pay anything close to £56m, particularly when cheaper, Premier League-proven alternatives exist.

United may prefer a domestic option, and Brentford’s Michael Kayode would be a superb signing for either club. Costa has been excellent at Porto, but a move to England looks unlikely in the near term, and any approach would probably come only if a departure creates a genuine vacancy.