Reports from Japan indicate that Zion Suzuki, a Japanese goalkeeper of Ghanaian descent, has declined an offer to join Manchester United, despite the Premier League club showing keen interest in signing the highly-rated shot-stopper.
Earlier this month, it was rumored that Manchester United was close to finalizing a deal for the 20-year-old, who has been praised as “a leader among the next generation of Japanese goalkeepers.” Urawa Reds, Suzuki’s current club in the J1 League, reportedly placed a £5 million price tag on him.
Japanese outlet Sponichi Annex initially reported that negotiations between Manchester United and Urawa Reds were progressing smoothly, and an agreement was imminent. However, the latest update suggests that the deal will not materialize this summer, even though Suzuki was positively affected by Manchester United’s approach.
The decision seems to be influenced by the upcoming Paris Olympics next summer, with Suzuki choosing to prioritize regular game time at his current club in Tokyo rather than joining Manchester United. The presence of four senior goalkeepers at Old Trafford, including Andre Onana, may have contributed to Suzuki’s decision, as he might have been limited to opportunities for regular first-team action.
While Suzuki would have likely served as Onana’s backup this season, the exciting prospect of him potentially joining Manchester United generated excitement among fans, especially after a compilation of his best moments circulated online.
Apart from Suzuki, Manchester United was reportedly considering two other goalkeepers for the backup role: Dominik Livakovic from Dinamo Zagreb and Justin Bijlow from Feyenoord. Bijlow confirmed that there was contact from Manchester United, but no official offer had been submitted at the time.
In an interview with FR12, Bijlow stated, “I don’t want to talk about it too much; it’s just quiet now. There was contact. Manchester United have not made an offer to Feyenoord, but out of respect for Feyenoord, I prefer not to discuss it further. I aim to achieve the highest possible level in my career, and we’ll see when and where that will be. Another year at Feyenoord wouldn’t be a bad thing.”
