Manchester United and Arsenal are among Europe's elite clubs keeping close tabs on Porto right-back Alberto Costa, whose impressive debut season in Portugal has elevated him into one of the continent's most sought-after young defenders. The 22-year-old, who arrived at the Estádio do Dragão from Juventus in July 2025, has already established himself as a key player following a meteoric rise that saw him amass 47 appearances and contribute eight assists during his first campaign. According to A Bola, Costa ranked as Porto's fifth-most-utilized player throughout the 2025-26 season, a testament to how swiftly he cemented his place in the starting lineup despite his youth and relative inexperience at the Portuguese club.
While Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Paris Saint-Germain are all monitoring Costa's development according to sources within the agents industry, none of the interested parties have yet submitted formal bids. The clubs remain in the preliminary scouting and analysis phase, carefully evaluating whether a move would justify the significant financial commitment required. Costa's contract situation presents both a challenge and an opportunity for potential suitors: Porto secured him through June 2030 on what appears to be favorable terms following their €15m investment from Juventus, plus up to €1m in performance-related bonuses. Most crucially, the Portuguese outfit inserted a €65m release clause and negotiated a stipulation retaining 10% of profits from any future sale for his former club. Recent performances have further strengthened Porto's negotiating hand, with Costa starting five of Porto's opening six matches across domestic and Champions League competition, including a full 90-minute appearance against Manchester City.
The appeal for both Manchester United and Arsenal stems from distinctly different tactical philosophies and squad needs. At Old Trafford, Costa represents the kind of young talent capable of providing genuine competition at right-back while fitting into United's recent recruitment strategy focused on potential-laden players who can develop into long-term cornerstone performers. Arsenal's interest hinges on manager Mikel Arteta's preference for defenders capable of fulfilling multiple roles and contributing meaningfully during possession-based football, with Costa's tactical versatility to either push forward aggressively or operate more defensively offering valuable flexibility. His attacking statistics prove particularly compelling—eight assists from full-back constitutes a notable contribution from the position, while his pace and recovery abilities align perfectly with the demands of teams employing high-pressing defensive systems.
The primary obstacle remains the asking price, as committing €60m-€65m for a 22-year-old with relatively limited top-level experience represents a substantial investment requiring careful consideration. However, Porto's considerable negotiating strength derives from their complete lack of urgency to sell, a position further reinforced by Costa's continued upward trajectory. For both Manchester United and Arsenal, the prudent strategy appears to involve continued observation and evaluation rather than premature action. Should Costa sustain his development trajectory, the release clause may eventually appear considerably more palatable to potential suitors, but currently Porto retains virtually all leverage in any potential negotiation.