Lisbon, Portugal – Sporting Clube de Portugal is reportedly revisiting a familiar name on their transfer wishlist: Alberto Costa, the right-back currently at Juventus. According to recent reports from Italy, the Portuguese champions have tabled a significant financial offer in an attempt to bring the player to Lisbon.
Journalist Alfredo Pedullà of Sport Italia suggests that Sporting`s football corporation (SAD) has put forward a bid in the region of €20 million for Costa. This development marks a renewal of interest from Sporting, who were reportedly linked with the defender during the previous winter transfer window as well.
Alberto Costa only made the move to Juventus in January, arriving from Vitoria de Guimarães in a deal valued at €12.5 million, with potential add-ons totaling €2.5 million based on performance incentives. Since joining the Serie A side, Costa has made 14 appearances and registered three assists, showing glimpses of his capabilities.
Sporting`s pursuit of a right-back appears to be a priority this summer. While Costa is clearly a strong target, he is seemingly not the only player under consideration. The club has also been actively linked with Giannis Vagiannidis of Panathinaikos.
Reports indicate that discussions for Vagiannidis have taken place, with Sporting`s general director, Bernardo Palmeiro, reportedly meeting with representatives from the Greek club in London. Sporting`s offer for Vagiannidis was reportedly structured as €10 million fixed, potentially rising by an additional €2 million through performance-related bonuses. However, Panathinaikos is said to have found this proposal unsatisfactory and rejected the offer.
This parallel negotiation strategy underscores the competitive nature of the transfer market, where clubs often work on multiple fronts simultaneously. While the path to signing Vagiannidis currently seems complicated by differing valuations, the substantial €20 million offer for Alberto Costa signals Sporting`s intent to secure a high-quality option for the right flank. The question now remains whether Juventus is willing to part ways with a player they only recently acquired, especially for a fee that, while profitable, represents a quick turnaround on their investment.
