Man United told they must meet star’s release clause

Manchester United are back in action on Wednesday as they face Championship leaders Burnley in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. 

Erik ten Hag’s side struggled with inconsistency at the start of the season, and went into the World Cup break sitting fifth in the Premier League table.

The Red Devils will be hoping to get back on track when they face The Clarets, and they will also be hopeful of picking up three points in their next league game against Nottingham Forest on December 27.

United have been tipped to be busy in the January transfer window, with Ten Hag reportedly looking to bolster his squad ahead of the second half of the campaign.

One area that the Dutchman is focusing on is goalkeeping, with David de Gea set to be out of contract next summer.

The Spaniard hasn’t yet committed to a new deal, and United have apparently been looking for a replacement.

One name that has cropped up regularly is Diogo Costa, but it seems the ‘keeper won’t come cheap.

According to Correio da Manha via Sky Sports, United have been told that they will need to meet Costa’s release clause to have any chance of signing the player.

Costa’s release clause is believed to be £65 million, but his current side Porto are refusing to budge and are desperate to keep hold of him.

The 23-year-old ‘keeper, who was part of the Portugal squad for the World Cup in Qatar, has been in fine form for his club side this term, keeping nine clean sheets in 19 matches across all competitions.

His form has attracted the interest of a number of clubs including United, but the report claims that Porto are unwilling to let him leave during the upcoming January window.

A product of the club’s academy, Costa has made a total of 87 appearances for Porto since making his debut back in 2019.

In Qatar, Costa played every minute as Portugal reached the quarter-finals, and his performances are likely to have attracted even more competition for his signature.