Young Japanese goalkeeping sensation Zion Suzuki has snubbed a move to Manchester United, according to reports in Japan, after the Premier League club expressed a serious interest in the highly-rated goalkeeper.
Earlier in the month United were allegedly close to completing their move for the Urawa Reds goalkeeper, with the 20-year-old – described as “a leader among the next generation of Japanese goalkeepers” – slapped with a reported £5 million price tag by the J1 League club.
In fact, Japanese outlet Sponichi Annex claimed an agreement was “imminent” with negotiations between both clubs having been “progressing smoothly”. However the same publication now claims that a deal has fallen through, despite the player being positively “shaken” by United’s approach.
It is understood that with the Paris Olympics coming up next summer, the Japan U21 international has “ultimately prioritized” game time at the Tokyo-based club over a sensational move to Old Trafford.
Despite having four senior goalkeepers on their books following the arrival of Andre Onana, many United fans were excited by the prospect of the Japanese shot-stopper’s potential arrival after vignettes of his best performances emerged online.
The only anticipated bone of contention is that Suzuki would most likely be serving as Onana’s understudy this season, which would have limited his regular first XI minutes.
The Metro suggests Suzuki was one of three goalkeepers United were considering for the back-up role, with Dinamo Zagreb’s Dominik Livakovic and Feyenoord number one Justin Bijlow also named.