Zion Suzuki is nearing a move to Aston Villa and the player has been praised for making the choice.
The Japan international was on the verge of signing for Paris Saint-Germain. Juventus were lying in wait to sign him on loan, as they have been desperate to get a new keeper.
Now, Aston Villa have made key progress over signing Suzuki. In July, Sport Witness had constantly covered that the Parma player was a target for Unai Emery’s side but they hadn’t made a formal approach at that point.
They have now moved for him and the player is undergoing a medical.
Praise for player’s attitude
Sportmediaset report Suzuki is undergoing a medical with Aston Villa today. Emery’s side are set to pay Parma €30m plus bonuses of €5m, as a deal with PSG fell through two days ago.
Corriere dello Sport provide some background over the transfer.
They praise the player rejecting a move to the European champions. He wasn’t going to be first-choice in Paris and this was key to him changing his mind about the big transfer.
Even if he did say ‘yes’ to joining Juventus on loan, he had no intention of waiting for PSG to make a final decision.
Aston Villa, in the past few weeks, had built an excellent relationship with the keeper’s entourage. They held initial discussions earlier and felt this was the chance to take advantage.
The Villans have been looking at Suzuki for the last two years. Even then, they saw the Japan international as a long-term replacement for Emi Martinez. The player possibly knew about this and didn’t hesitate in agreeing to join the Villa Park club.
Our take: Patience needed with Suzuki
The 23-year-old was a regular for Parma for two seasons but he did make some high-profile errors. The best period of his spell at the club came towards the end of last season, when he returned from a long-term injury.
That is why Aston Villa may have to be patient with Suzuki. He is still young for a keeper and this is his first big move. As a result, he may also need time to settle into life in Birmingham.
Personality wise, he is known to be a vocal leader and this suggests he is a very good choice for the long-term. Patience in him should pay off.
