Manchester United can end transfer uncertainty with £64m deal for Europe's 'most hidden secret'

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As Manchester United's transfer business continues to take shape, uncertainty continues to rein over the club's goalkeeping situation.

Tom Heaton has signed a new one year contract to remain as the club's third choice goalkeeper but it feels as if one of Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir will leave the club this summer.

Onana has now had two years as the club's number one and while he did have an impressive period between the posts, that was bookended by some high profile errors at the start of his time at the club and in recent months.

Bayindir has not shown any signs of proving he is up to the level of playing for United when he has had to deputise for Onana and may leave in search of regular first team football.

Onana is keen to stay at United but it remains to be seen whether he will do so as number one, with a new challenger as the club's number two, or whether a new number one will be sought in the market.

As such, United are already running the rule over potential replacements. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has been linked but so too has Portugal international goalkeeper Diogo Costa.

Costa is Portugal's number one goalkeeper, is well known by Ruben Amorim, and has impressed at both the 2022 World Cup and 2024 European Championships, winning 36 caps for his country.

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez is a huge fan of Costa's ability, describing him as 'the most hidden secret' in European football after his performance in Portugal's penalty shootout win over Slovenia last summer.

"I think Portugal’s secret is Diogo Costa," Martinez said. "Diogo Costa is the most hidden secret in European football and today he showed up."

At 25, Costa's best years are still ahead of him despite already racking up considerable experience in the Champions and at international level.

Adept with the ball at his feet, but strong at the fundamentals of goalkeeping too, Costa would be the perfect fit as Onana's successor.

Costa is said to have a release clause of £64million his current contract and while that may seem a bit steep for a goalkeeper, it could well be a price worth paying if it ends any awkward uncertainty surrounding the goalkeeper situation this summer.

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