Zion Suzuki: Profile, playing style, scouting report

Manchester United are considering making a move for Japanese goalkeeper

Zion Suzuki of the Urawa Red Diamonds has reportedly received a £5 million bid from Manchester United, as reported by the Japanese sports daily Sponichi (via GOAL).

Suzuki, 20, has been monitored by the Red Devils since 2017, according to the aforementioned source. They're willing to increase their stake in the shot-stopper at this point.

The amount Celtic spent to get Kyogo Furuhashi from Vissel Kobe (£4.5 million) is greater than Manchester United's offer for Suzuki. As long as negotiations between the two clubs go well, the custodian might end up being the biggest deal in J-League history.

Suzuki progress into a talented goalkeeper

Prior to earning a league appearance in Urawa Reds' 2-0 home victory against Vegalta Sendai in May 2021, Suzuki progressed through the team's ranks there. Since then, he has made 28 outings for the team in various leagues, recording 11 shutouts in the course of it.

It's important to note that the young player struggled to get playing time at Urawa Reds the previous year. He made five appearances for the team, all of which occurred in the J.

League Cup. Suzuki, who has one appearance for Japan's senior national group, didn't participate in the league because veteran custodian Shusaku Nishikawa was preferred to him.

Why are United targeting him?

Ten Hag would prefer to be able to bolster every aspect of his team before United's readmission to the Champions League.

Unfortunately, as was already established, the club's financial situation prevents such from happening. The club has to part ways with several members of their current squad in order to increase their summer budget.

Even though the Lancashire team is prepared to offload up to 13 players before the start of the upcoming season, getting reasonable offers for a lot of them is more difficult than it sounds.

Ten Hag might have to make do in many places with what he already has on hand unless there is an unlikely exodus in the upcoming weeks.

Therefore, it is obvious that Suzuki is needed as a talented young person. De Gea is at the wrong point in his career to be regarded as a long-term component of United's aspirations, even if the club prevails in its hopeful plea to persuade him to re-sign on severely reduced terms.

Playing style of Japanese goalkeeper

When watching Suzuki, his control of the box is the primary attribute that stands out immediately away. Suzuki's reckless style of play will be a breath of new air for United fans that have grown weary of David de Gea's propensity to hold his ground.

He frequently crosses across his own line to assert fictitious crosses that neutralise enemy attacks. His side can play high up the field with security because of this quality there is little risk of being caught off guard by transitions that send defenders sprinting towards their own goal.

Of course, a custodian ought to continue to be able to maintain the ball out of the net despite all of their sophisticated sweeping abilities. In that regard, Zion Suzuki has already demonstrated excellent quickness and recovery abilities in his young career.

It is challenging to defeat him because he closes the firing angle quickly after coming out. Even when the ball wobbles, he is quick to stand back up and get into a good position to block any ensuing shot.