Expected window: January 2027
Alberto Costa to Manchester United
Last update: 35 days ago
Evidence score
Manchester United and Arsenal are both linked with Alberto Costa, with reports pointing to a potential January move. His contract at Porto runs to June 2030.
- Independent sources10/40
1 independent source (max 4); 5 other outlets only repeat someone else's reporting
- Source track record10/25
The independent sources have no history yet (assumed 40%)
- Deal stage0/25
Stage: interest
- How recent5/10
Last update 35 days ago
What we know
Manchester United and Arsenal are both linked with Alberto Costa, with reports pointing to a potential January move. His contract at Porto runs to June 2030.
Only msports_net on 29 Sep mentions a release clause. The story first appeared on 28 Sep, when DeadlineDayLive, msports_net, Fichajes.net, and Yahoo Sports reported the interest, attributing it to CaughtOffside. On 29 Sep, five outlets — msports_net, TribalFootball.com, DeadlineDayLive, BBC Sport, and Yahoo Sports — repeated the link, with BBC Sport and Yahoo Sports also noting PSG interest, and only Fichajes.net adding Manchester City.
Key findings
- Earliest report on file: 28 Sept 2026, Yahoo Sports, citing CaughtOffside (not among the sources).
- 1 independent source behind it (TribalFootball.com); 5 other outlets only repeat earlier reporting.
- 2 posts from unidentified accounts, not counted as evidence.
- Deal stage reached by a counted source: interest.
- 5 reports attribute the story to CaughtOffside, whose own article is not among the sources.
- No second independent source corroborates it.
- Latest evidence: 35 days ago.
Who reported it
| Outlet | Tier | What they said | Track record | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TribalFootball.com 29/09/2026 | Tier 3 · Secondary | It's no wonder then that both Premier League clubs are being linked with a January move for Porto's excellent Alberto Costa. Stage: interest | No history yet | Original source |
| BBC Sport 29/09/2026 | Tier 1 · Primary | Manchester United and Arsenal are monitoring Porto right-back Alberto Costa, with Paris St-Germain also interested. Stage: interest | 2 cases, no percentage yet | Cites CaughtOffside (not in this dossier) |
| Yahoo Sports 29/09/2026 | Tier 2 · Established | Man Utd and Arsenal keep a close eye on Porto's Alberto Costa, with PSG also interested. Stage: interest | 1 of 3 cases · 33% | Cites CaughtOffside (not in this dossier) |
| Yahoo Sports 28/09/2026 | Tier 2 · Established | Manchester United and Arsenal are both keeping a close eye on Porto's 22-year-old Portuguese right-back Alberto Costa but face competition from Paris St-Germain. Stage: interest | 1 of 3 cases · 33% | Cites CaughtOffside (not in this dossier) |
| msports_net 29/09/2026 | Tier 4 · Speculative | Arsenal and Man United are tracking Alberto Costa amid a € release clause Stage: interest | No history yet | Follows Yahoo Sports (28 Sept) Tier 4 · Speculative report, later than a better-rated outlet saying the same: counted as a repeat, not a new source. |
| DeadlineDayLive 29/09/2026 | Tier 4 · Speculative | Manchester United and Arsenal are monitoring Porto right-back Alberto Costa ahead of a potential transfer Stage: interest | 1 case, no percentage yet | Follows Yahoo Sports (28 Sept) Tier 4 · Speculative report, later than a better-rated outlet saying the same: counted as a repeat, not a new source. |
| DeadlineDayLive 28/09/2026 | Tier 4 · Speculative | Manchester United monitoring Porto right-back Alberto Costa ahead of potential move, no formal bids submitted Stage: interest | 1 case, no percentage yet | Cites CaughtOffside (not in this dossier) |
| msports_net 28/09/2026 | Tier 4 · Speculative | Manchester United and Arsenal are reportedly among the elite European clubs closely monitoring Porto’s standout right-back Alberto Costa Stage: interest | No history yet | Repeats another outlet |
| Fichajes.net 28/09/2026 | Tier 4 · Speculative | Ojeadores de Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City y Paris Saint-Germain no pierden de vista las evoluciones del joven zaguero Stage: interest | 1 case, no percentage yet | Cites CaughtOffside (not in this dossier) |
| Unverified Instagram post 28/09/2026 | Tier 5 · Unverifiable | No formal bids have been made for Costa despite his €65M release clause Fee quoted: €65M release clause Stage: interest | No history yet | Unverified account |
| Unverified Instagram post 28/09/2026 | Tier 5 · Unverifiable | Manchester United are keeping tabs on Portuguese right-back Alberto Costa, reportedly available for around £55.8M Stage: interest | No history yet | Unverified account |
Timeline
- 29 Sept 2026 · msports_netArsenal and Man United are tracking Alberto Costa amid a € release clause
Came after Yahoo Sports (Tier 2, 28 Sept) reported the same; counted as a repeat, not a new source. Stage: interest
- 29 Sept 2026 · BBC SportManchester United and Arsenal are monitoring Porto right-back Alberto Costa, with Paris St-Germain also interested.
Repeats reporting attributed to CaughtOffside (its own article is not in this dossier). Stage: interest
- 29 Sept 2026 · Yahoo SportsMan Utd and Arsenal keep a close eye on Porto's Alberto Costa, with PSG also interested.
Repeats reporting attributed to CaughtOffside (its own article is not in this dossier). Stage: interest
- 29 Sept 2026 · TribalFootball.comIt's no wonder then that both Premier League clubs are being linked with a January move for Porto's excellent Alberto Costa.
First-hand report. Stage: interest
- 29 Sept 2026 · DeadlineDayLiveManchester United and Arsenal are monitoring Porto right-back Alberto Costa ahead of a potential transfer
Came after Yahoo Sports (Tier 2, 28 Sept) reported the same; counted as a repeat, not a new source. Stage: interest
- 28 Sept 2026 · DeadlineDayLiveManchester United monitoring Porto right-back Alberto Costa ahead of potential move, no formal bids submitted
Repeats reporting attributed to CaughtOffside (its own article is not in this dossier). Stage: interest
- 28 Sept 2026 · msports_netManchester United and Arsenal are reportedly among the elite European clubs closely monitoring Porto’s standout right-back Alberto Costa
Repeats reporting from another outlet. Stage: interest
- 28 Sept 2026 · Fichajes.netOjeadores de Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City y Paris Saint-Germain no pierden de vista las evoluciones del joven zaguero
Repeats reporting attributed to CaughtOffside (its own article is not in this dossier). Stage: interest
- 28 Sept 2026 · Yahoo SportsManchester United and Arsenal are both keeping a close eye on Porto's 22-year-old Portuguese right-back Alberto Costa but face competition from Paris St-Germain.
Repeats reporting attributed to CaughtOffside (its own article is not in this dossier). Stage: interest
- 28 Sept 2026 · Unverified Instagram postNo formal bids have been made for Costa despite his €65M release clause
Repeats reporting from another outlet. Stage: interest
- 28 Sept 2026 · Unverified Instagram postManchester United are keeping tabs on Portuguese right-back Alberto Costa, reportedly available for around £55.8M
Repeats reporting from another outlet. Stage: interest
Does Manchester United need him?
Right-Back: the full-backs Manchester United already have, from their squad list, and who they brought in there over the last two seasons. Facts only: we do not judge the need.
Current full-backs (4, 2 with a year or less left)
| Player | Position | Age | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diogo Dalot | Right-Back | 27 | 30 Jun 2028 |
| Noussair Mazraoui | Right-Back | 28 | 30 Jun 2028 |
| Luke Shaw | Left-Back | 30 | 30 Jun 2027 |
| Harry Amass | Left-Back | 19 | 30 Jun 2027 |
Recent signings in this position
- Harry Amass (Left-Back)2026/27 · back from loan at Norwich City
- Harry Amass (Left-Back)2025/26 · back from loan at Sheffield Wednesday
- Tyrell Malacia (Left-Back)· no longer in the squad2025/26 · back from loan at PSV Eindhoven
Is it still alive?
- First report
- 28 Sept 2026
- Latest report
- 29 Sept 2026 (34 days ago)
- Transfer window
- January 2027: shuts in 91 days
The window the reports point to. If the move has not happened 10 days after it shuts, the dossier closes as not done.
No new reporting for over three weeks: the story is going cold.
Contract and fee
- Contract until
- June 2030
- Reported fee
- —
No outlet has quoted a figure for this move yet. We never estimate one.
Also linked with
Score over time
Player profile
- Full name
- Alberto Oliveira Baio
- Age
- 23
- Agent
- AS1
Photo: Non lodò 2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; resized and cropped.
Full player profile: contract and career moves →