Diogo Costa has been linked to Chelsea this summer, and they are now one step closer to signing him.

According to a Fabrizio Romano report, Chelsea and the buyer of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy have reached an agreement. The Senegalese goalkeeper’s future is uncertain, but the transfer guru claimed that a verbal agreement regarding a switch had been reached with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli.

Mendy’s contract at Stamford Bridge has just two years left, and an exit seemed the most likely course of action after recent inaction regarding a renewal. The 31-year-old inspired the Blues to a storied Champions League triumph in 2021, but his form and injury history have since been a cause for concern.

With those concerns in mind, the decision may be best for all parties involved. Mendy and Al-Ahli have already agreed to a three-year contract; all that is left is for the contracts to be signed and the confirmation to be given. The goalkeeper is probably going to play in the Saudi league alongside a lot of other Chelsea players.

The biggest stars have been sought after since the Saudi state’s Public Investment Fund announced significant investments in football clubs. With N’Golo Kante’s confirmation as an Al-Ittihad player late on Tuesday night, Chelsea has also been at the center of the controversy.

While Kalidou Koulibaly and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have also been connected to switches, Hakim Ziyech has agreed to terms to join Al-Nassr. Mendy appears to be the next to go, putting Chelsea one step closer to needing a new goalkeeper for the upcoming campaign.

Kepa Arrizabalaga is a possibility, but Diogo Costa of Porto, who has impressed at the young age of 23, is the most recent link for an incoming. The Blues would have to sabotage a move from Manchester United, though, as the Red Devils have been heavily linked for the past year as they search for a David De Gea replacement.

Thoughts can now quickly shift to acquiring a goalkeeper while United is still unsure of what will happen with the Spaniard, who has a contract that expires this summer but is still in contract negotiations. They get one step closer to finding their ideal replacement as a result.

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Mauricio Pochettino ‘orders’ Chelsea’s transfer officials to sabotage a £34 million Liverpool agreement

Liverpool could be upset with Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino in the transfer window.

Chelsea are reportedly planning to hijack Liverpool’s £34m deal for Celta Vigo star Gabri Veiga at the request of new manager Mauricio Pochettino. Both teams are looking for midfield reinforcements and see the 21-year-old as a possible solution to their problems.

Celta are happy to lose their star after a superb La Liga campaign, as their £34m contract includes a release clause – alarming clubs both in the Premier League and across Europe. Liverpool have been one of the strongest links as Jurgen Klopp looks to overhaul his midfield, starting with the finalized deal for Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister.

The Reds were ready to take a ‘concrete step’ for Veiga, as journalist Rudy Galetti explained to Give Me Sport: “The race for Veiga will be won by the fastest club.” He also gave up Manchester City, Real Madrid and Napoli. Tip to try to sign the midfielder even though Chelsea could now start the race.

Spanish magazine Relevo claim Pochettino insisted the Blues pay his release clause as part of the club’s rebuild, with the Argentine looking to build his squad amid massive destruction at the hands of Todd Boehly and his company for the huge £600m Spree outlay in the last two transfer windows before Pochettino arrived.

With Veiga having a fixed transfer fee in his contract, the report says it is up to the clubs to convince him to give them preference over their rivals. While Liverpool have an advantage, Chelsea are said to be ‘booming’ as Pochettino have taken the lead in the transfer market over Veiga.

Chelsea may have stepped up their push to sign Veiga after talks with Brighton over Moises Caicedo were described as ‘slow’ after the Seagulls demanded a price tag of over £100m for the Ecuadorian.

Veiga has been named as one of the Blues’ alternatives as they look to be more cautious in this window, with Romeo Lavia another on the shortlist of players to partner with Enzo Fernandez. However, Arsenal have the upper hand in talks with the Belgian, who could cost up to £40m despite Southampton’s relegation.

The Gunners have a good relationship with his agent, who also represents Bukayo Saka and helped broker a new long-term deal between the club and the recent England hat-trick hero in May.

Meanwhile, Chelsea could sell Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount, while N’Golo Kante is on the verge of turning down a new contract and leaving for Saudi Arabia on a free transfer, so it’s clear why Pochettino insisted on paying Veiga’s release clause.