Could Manchester United and Chelsea be ready to pounce on Bayern Munich’s Douglas Costa?

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According to reports coming from Germany today, Premier League champions Chelsea could be poised to battle it out with Premier League rivals Manchester United for Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa.

German news outlet Bild have claimed that the Bundesliga giants are prepared to let the 26-year-old leave the club this summer transfer window, and have listed both Chelsea and United as interested.

Costa has found himself behind Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery in the pecking order at the Allianz this season, only managing 15 starts, and it’s believed he could leave to make way for further additions.

Does Costa possess the talent to succeed in the Premier League?

For somebody to make 50 appearances for Bayern Munich, winning back-to-back Bundesliga titles and the DFB-Pokal across just two seasons, it’s clear that Douglas Costa is certainly no slouch.

The Brazilian has made a name for himself as one of the silkiest, trickiest players in European football for the past five years, and a weapon like this would still be invaluable in the English top-flight.

He’s a very quick winger, able to have an almost unrivalled turn of pace that the likes of Marcus Rashford have benefitted from in the Premier League in recent times, and his close control is just as impressive.

Although not the most prolific in front of goal – Costa plays his football like more of a playmaker than a finisher – he has an immense left-foot on him that has a tendency to cause the spectacular.

Despite only making 15 starts in the Bundesliga this season – and only four in Bayern’s run to the Champions League quarter-finals – Costa still created more chances (35) than those with more regular first-team action in Robert Lewandowski, Arturo Vidal, Joshua Kimmich and Kingsley Coman.

This goes to show that there’s still a potent industry about Costa inside the final third, willing to run at defenders and simultaneously create space for his teammates before releasing a final, killer pass.

The 26-year-old is one of a new breed of player that is comfortable anywhere in the final third and, at one of England’s top clubs in either United or Chelsea, this versatility would come in very handy.

In a sense he’s the typical Brazilian; good with the ball at his feet, possessing a lot of pace to burn and extremely innovative in opposition territory, the technical aspects of his game are exquisitely good.

His physicality and ability to adapt to a tougher, faster league is perhaps the only thing that would unsettle him in the Premier League – but with his evident natural talent it’s surely a worthwhile risk.

And with one goal and two assists in just over 100 minutes of football against Arsenal in this year’s Champions League last 16 tie, he’s already proven that he can deliver against England’s top teams.

What are the chances of a move to England happening?

If fresh reports are anything to go by then Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti seems like he has his mind fairly made up that there’s little Costa can do to usurp Robben and Ribery’s spots in the side.

Add to this the fact that, speaking to Bild in February, the Brazilian openly admitted his desire to play his football in England and it seems that a move away could now become a formality.

With The Sun reporting that Eden Hazard would listen to offers from Champions League winners Real Madrid, Chelsea could look to Costa to replace the Belgian.

In addition, with Manchester United securing elite European football ahead of next season, it is likely the Brazilian would consider a move to Old Trafford to escape the Allianz Arena.

It could now be a summer showdown between the two Premier League giants to secure his signature.

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