Man Utd missed out on a bargain move for Zion Suzuki in 2023

Manchester United missed out on a bargain move for Zion Suzuki in 2023 and the goalkeeper’s price has since rocketed to £40million.

Suzuki, 22, was on United’s radar during his time with Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds. The Red Devils agreed a £5m move but in a remarkable twist, Suzuki rejected a switch to Old Trafford in favour of a loan move to Belgian club Sint-Truiden.

That summer, United had already signed Andre Onana as David de Gea’s successor and later brought in Altay Bayındır as his backup. Fearing his chances would be limited, Suzuki chose an unfamiliar path, and it seems his gamble has paid off.

Parma paid £8.5m to make him their new number one and the Japan international has widely impressed during his debut Serie A season. However, this means that Suzuki is no longer the hidden gem that United were on the verge of signing just 18 months ago.

It has been reported by talkSPORT that Parma value their highly-rated goalkeeper at £40m and hope to keep him for at least another season. While United are said to still be monitoring Suzuki’s progress, his new price tag is eight times more than the club were willing to pay in 2023.

Newly-promoted Parma are in a relegation scrap this term, currently just a point above the bottom three, but Suzuki’s assured performances in a top European league will help further convince any potential suitors. He previously had interest from Chelsea and has also been linked with Bayern Munich, but United could potentially be back in the market for a shot stopper if Onana continues to disappoint between the sticks.

His ascent will not surprise former Sint-Truiden manager Thorsten Fink, who spoke glowingly about Suzuki when explaining why he had usurped veteran Daniel Schmidt in the pecking order. “It's unfortunate what's happening to [Schmidt], but Zion is now our first goalkeeper,” Fink told Walfoot. “He is considered one of the greatest talents in the world in his position and we have to polish him."

Suzuki’s patient approach to his career is rare but it displays a maturity that may also impress clubs hunting for a new number one. In 2023, the goalkeeper explained that his ambition was to prove himself in the Premier League but that United's interest came at the wrong time in his development.

"It's true that there was an offer from Manchester United,” Suzuki admitted. “As a football player and as a person, if I hadn't thought about anything, of course, I would like to go to Manchester United, but among them, I really want to spend time thinking about what kind of future awaits me.

"Manchester United have acquired Onana. It's important for me to participate in matches, and I think it is also important to play on the world stage. There are no Japanese goalkeepers in the Premier League, so I want to be one of the first players to do so. I want to keep moving forward step by step."