Author: News Desk

Diogo Costa has a £64m release clause(Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Manchester United are refusing to activate a £64million release clause in Diogo Costa’s contract and are instead trying to negotiate a lower price with Porto.

The goalkeeper is at the top of United’s wishlist to replace David De Gea this summer.

The Spaniard is out of contract at the end of the month and, despite verbally agreeing a new deal, an extension is yet to be signed.

It comes after Erik ten Hag refused to guarantee De Gea would remain first choice following his mistake in the FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City, where he failed to keep out Ilkay Gundogan’s second half strike.

De Gea’s distribution has been criticised under Ten hag, and Costa is one of the best at Europe with his feet.

Costa’s distribution is first class (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

The 23-year-old is already Portugal’s number 1 and he has a clause in his contract that makes him available for £64m.

However, United are refusing to activate that clause, according to A Bola.

Instead, the club are attempting to negotiate a lower fee with Porto in order to conserve their summer budget.

Ten Hag has been given roughly £120million to spend, though he can top that up through player sales.

The Dutchman wants to sign a striker and a midfielder, with a goalkeeper considered a priority behind those two positions.

MORE : Newcastle overtake Tottenham in race to sign Leicester City star James Maddison

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