Aston Villa will look to sign 25-year-old Portuguese shot-stopper Diogo Costa to replace Emiliano Martinez in the final hours of the summer transfer window.

According to an update by reputed Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Diogo Costa is the subject of interest from Aston Villa. The Villans are keen on reinforcing their first-team squad by signing a goalkeeper before the summer transfer window shuts down amid uncertainties surrounding Emiliano Martinez’s long-term future. So, the 25-year-old FC Porto shot-stopper has emerged as a target for the West Midlands outfit.

The rising Premier League giants have already advanced talks with the Rothrist-born goalkeeper’s representatives. With Manchester United reviving the move to sign Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa, the search for his long-term replacement has well and truly begun.

Diogo Costa and his rise at FC Porto

Diogo Costa has established himself as one of the most widely recognised goalkeepers in the world since breaking into the first-team squad at FC Porto. The 25-year-old has come leaps and bounds in the last half a decade, and he is now a mainstay between the sticks for his club and country.

The 25-year-old has made over 200 appearances thus far for FC Porto while keeping 86 clean sheets and conceding 175 goals. Meanwhile, Costa’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several European bigwigs. Premier League bigwigs, in particular, are keen on signing the Portuguese international, with Aston Villa among the prospective suitors vying for his signature heading into the summer transfer window.

Premier League move on the horizon?

Aston Villa’s interest in Diogo Costa is understandable. The Villans are scouring the market for a goalkeeper this summer amid uncertainties surrounding Emiliano Martinez’s long-term future. The Argentine international may depart from Villa Park in the final hours of the summer transfer window, with Manchester United eyeing a late move for the World Cup winner.

So, Aston Villa must sign a long-term replacement who can fill Martinez’s boots at Villa Park. Costa has thus emerged as a viable target, with the West Midlands outfit wasting no time in ramping up the talks with his entourage over a late move.

With Manchester United leaning towards pursuing Emiliano Martinez instead of Senne Lammens, Costa will be the go-to target for Aston Villa. It will be interesting to see if the Villans strike an agreement to sign the 25-year-old Portuguese international in the final hours of the summer transfer window.