EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle have held discussions for Newark-born Japan international stopper in the last few days
Zion Suzuki of Japan
Zion Suzuki of Japan (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Newcastle United have held talks over 6ft 3in Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki after being offered the Japan star as they look to secure a new No 1.
Chronicle Live understands that the player's agency has been in touch with Newcastle and a discussion has taken place on the 23-year-old. Newcastle have not made a decision just yet on Suzuki but know all about him after sending senior scout Mick Tait to Wembley to run the rule over him back in March.
That night the 23-year-old kept England at bay in the capital as Japan defeated the Three Lions 1-0 during their preparations for the World Cup. Since then the Serie A star went on to play four games at the World Cup finals before Japan were beaten by Brazil in the last 32.
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 of his contract he could be looking for other options. 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, United will need to make a quick call.
James Trafford remains their first choice to fill the No 1 spot but the Man City man remains on international duty with England. He doesn't 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 Jaouens having yet to play any top-flight football in France.
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."
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."
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