Chelsea expected to start contact for big signing now it’s July – Blues in pole position

It seems Chelsea are now back to leading the race for Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

There had been big expectations about the Dragons selling the player this week, as they needed the money before the end of the financial year. And even though he isn’t gone, newspaper Jornal de Notícias has a good reason to believe the Blues’ chase is on.

The outlet features a story claiming Chelsea have been ‘accelerating sales’ with the departures of Kai Haertz, Mateo Kovacic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy and possibly Mason Mount. That means they have their ‘coffers full’ to invest in a new goalkeeper.

Even though Manchester United were once said to be in pole position to sign Costa, Jornal de Notícias writes it’s Chelsea who are ‘better placed’, saying the Blues ‘should start contacts’ in the first days of July.

The price to take the 23-year-old from Porto remains the same, as his €75m release clause hasn’t changed. But the story claims this is no problem for Chelsea, recalling they spent more to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Club Bilbao.

Chelsea can surely get a discount from that €75m.