Newcastle United have held talks over Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki after being offered the Japan international, as they look to secure a new first-choice goalkeeper. The 6ft 3in shot-stopper, who was born in Newark, has been on Newcastle's radar since senior scout Mick Tait watched him at Wembley in March, where Suzuki kept England at bay in a 1-0 victory for Japan during their World Cup preparations.
World Cup Experience and Transfer Interest
The 23-year-old Serie A star went on to play four games at the World Cup finals before Japan were eliminated by Brazil in the last 32. Suzuki is set to leave Parma and has been in talks with a host of clubs, including Paris St-Germain, Aston Villa and Leeds United. He is valued at around £17m and is within budget for the Magpies, with wages not thought to be a problem. However, with competition for his services, Newcastle will need to make a quick decision.
Newcastle's Goalkeeping Situation
Newcastle have new boy Ewen Jaouen poised to make his debut later this month at Gateshead, but Nick Pope's future has a question mark over it. Despite being linked with Ipswich Town, there had been no contact on the 34-year-old as of the close of play last week. Pope knows he will not be No 1 if Newcastle sign another senior keeper, and with one year left on his contract, he could be looking for other options.
James Trafford remains their first choice to fill the No 1 spot, but the Manchester City man remains on international duty with England. He does not want to talk about his future until after the tournament, and has a new manager at the Etihad in Enzo Maresca, who he will need conversations with. Newcastle made the decision not to take up the option to buy Aaron Ramsdale from Southampton back in June, while they released veteran John Ruddy. That leaves Pope as the only senior option, with Jaouen having yet to play any top-flight football in France.
Eddie Howe on Nick Pope
Eddie Howe recalled Pope to the side last season after a clanger against Everton and said then: "Nick's had moments where he's not been selected before. He's a high-class person. He thinks of the team first. He's part of our leadership group for a reason, because the lads see that he's a team player fundamentally. He's been excellent, I have to say. He's been excellent."
"You can put it into context that the role of a footballer, and especially a goalkeeper, can sometimes be very up and down. But he has to see the longer-term vision, which is he just needs to be at his very best, forget anything else about team selection. So he's really focusing on his training and the fundamentals behind that. I've got no doubt with his attitude, with the work that he'll do with the coaches, he'll be back to his very best very soon."
Other Goalkeeper Targets
Newcastle had also been credited with slapping in a £10m bid for Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas. However, Gladbach's sporting director Rouven Schroder has denied that the Bundesliga club have received an offer for the 28-year-old. "We have not received any offer for Moritz Nicolas," he told Kicker. "We are planning with Moritz 100 percent as our No 1."
