Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Douglas Costa is ‘very happy’ at the Donbass Arena, and is not looking to leave the Ukrainian Premier League giants when the transfer window re-opens in January despite the player’s agent, Cesar Bottega, welcoming reported interest from English Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur, Sky Sports understands.
In January 2010, Douglas Costa, 22, agreed to terms on a five-year deal worth approximately €6 million with Shakhtar Donetsk after spending two seasons with Porto Alegre side Grêmio in Brazil.
The former Brazil Under-20 international is also attracting interest from Napoli, but the 22-year-old’s agent has played down a potential move for the attacking midfielder.
“The interest of Napoli and Tottenham is very pleasing,” Bottega told Tuttomercatoweb.
“However, Douglas was followed more in the past, now he has lost a little appeal.
“He wasted time and is now returning to the team. But nowadays he is a reserve.
“His future? He is very happy at Shakhtar and is interested in staying there. We will see what happens later on in the future.”
Douglas Costa has made three appearances in the UEFA Champions League for the Group E leaders this season, increasing his European appearance total to 18 matches over the past three seasons, with the Brazilian ace having bagged two goals and four assists in that span.
Draxler dismisses exit rumours
Germany international midfielder Julian Draxler has rubbished reports linking him with a move away from the Veltins-Arena, Sky Sports reports.
Draxler, 19, has reportedly emerged as a top transfer target for Italian giants Inter Milan in recent weeks, with speculation suggesting that a Nerazzurri scout attended Schalke’s UEFA Champions League match against Arsenal, which ended in a 2-2 draw, earlier this month.
Despite the speculation, Draxler has insisted that he will stay on at Schalke 04 for the foreseeable future.
“There is nothing new from me. I am staying on at Schalke,” Draxler told BILD.
“I will definitely not be on the move, not even next summer. I’m royal blue – my favourite colours are blue and white.”
His loyalty to Schalke 04 is quite evident, which explains why he cannot see himself moving to another Bundesliga club in the future, with Spain listed as his preferred destination.
“I do not see myself moving between clubs in the Bundesliga in the future.
“Maybe one day I could feel I have done my best in the Bundesliga and would like to move on to experience a different league and country.
“In this case Spain has always been a country I prefer.”
The Germany international, who is under contract at the Veltins-Arena until the summer of 2016, has made 18 appearances for club and country this term, totaling five goals and three assists.
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