If West Ham United were awaiting a public response from Parma regarding renewed Premier League interest in Serie A goalkeeping sensation Zion Suzuki, then they may have already received the answer they were dreading.
And, make no mistake, Parma are in no mood to simply spin a profit and bid a quick farewell to last season’s standout performers.
Ange-Yoan Bonny, the striker who reportedly turned down West Ham United in favour of a £20 million move to Inter Milan, is the only big-money departure the Gialloblu have planned between now and the dawn of the new campaign.
Bonny rejected West Ham’s advances in June. His patience was finally rewarded when Inter finally agreed terms over the weekend, the France Under-21 forward signing a long-term deal at San Siro.
Hammers News have been informed by football correspondent Graeme Bailey that Zion Suzuki may be in no rush to join West Ham either. Even if the USA-born glovesman was keen on becoming the first Japanese footballer ever to represent the Hammers in the Premier League, it is understood that Parma would demand a minimum of £30 – if not £40 – million for his services.
Federico Cherubini, Parma’s straight-talking chief executive, appears to possess a bite every inch as fierce as his bark.
Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki celebrates after Atalanta BC v Parma Calcio 1913 - Serie A
Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images
Parma CEO Federico Cherubini does not want to sell West Ham United target Zion Suzuki
Cherubini, speaking to Gazzetta di Parma back in June before West Ham’s interest was made public, left Suzuki’s suitors under no illusions about the stance he was taking.
“It’s true, there are a lot of clubs asking,” the CEO said with regards to Suzuki and teenage centre-back Giovanni Leoni. “But they’re not on the market.
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“The desire of the owners, and all the sporting staff, is to keep the both of them for another season.”
A source close to West Ham chairman David Sullivan recently told Hammers News that, despite a lack of movement in or out of the London Stadium, that ‘anything is possible’.
Cherubini repeats that phrase almost word for word, offering a brief glint of hope before slamming down the shutters once more and reiterating his earlier stance.
Parma are not for turning.
“Anything can happen in the transfer market. But to date [late-July], neither Suzuki nor Leoni have given any signs of temptation by the transfer rumours,” he added.
“And we want them to stay, because they’re two important players for our future.”
Speaking of West Ham’s future, a new number one feels like a must for a club who suffered their fair share of goalkeeping blunders during a difficult 2024/25 campaign for Alphonse Areola. The departure of Lukasz Fabianski puts even more pressure on finding a replacement.
West Ham like Aaron Ramsdale, Noah Atubolu and Mads Hermansen too
A ‘world-class goalkeeper’ with ‘extraordinary technical’ quality, to quote former Parma sporting director Mauro Pederzoli, Suzuki would tick more boxes than most.
After turning down Manchester United when leaving Urawa Red Diamonds for Belgian outfit Sint Truiden during the summer of 2023, Suzuki is not only a supreme shot-stopper but also an excellent distributor too.
He has spoken openly, in the past, about his admiration for Manchester City’s goalkeeper/playmaker Ederson. The Brazilian’s influence is clear to see in Suzuki’s game. As is his suitability to a Graham Potter gameplan.
Then again, Hammers News understands that Potter is a fan of Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale too. Then there is Mads Hermansen; West Ham harbour serious interest in Leicester City’s £35 million-rated glovesman too.
Noah Atubolu – the Freiburg youngster was so impressive for Germany at the recent Under-21 European Championships – is another potential alternative, albeit there are question marks surrounding both his affordability and his attainability.
For now though, with Parma holding out for a minimum of £30 million and with the man himself in no rush for another change of scenery, there are few who appear less affordable and less attainable than Zion Suzuki.