Aston Villa and Manchester United are locked in a transfer battle to sign Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki this summer transfer window.
The two Premier League clubs, both with Champions League football secured for next season, face stiff competition from Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and Napoli for the Japan international.
Parma have made their position clear, demanding that any interested club meet their full asking price or walk away from negotiations entirely.
The Italian club’s firm stance is a calculated one, given the volume of elite European clubs circling around their highly-rated shot-stopper.
SportsBoom has reported that Suzuki’s situation is set to be one of the most compelling transfer stories of the summer, with interest intensifying following the World Cup.
Of the two English clubs, Aston Villa find themselves in the more urgent position, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez potentially heading for the exit door.
Juventus have reportedly turned their attention toward Martinez after missing out on Liverpool’s Alisson Becker, leaving Villa facing the prospect of losing their number one.
Villa narrowly avoided losing Martinez late in last summer’s window, and a second consecutive saga around the Argentina World Cup winner would test the club’s planning significantly.
Unai Emery would, however, have significant funds available to reinvest should Martinez depart, making a move for Suzuki a realistic and attractive proposition.
At just 23 years old, Suzuki recorded five clean sheets in 20 appearances for Parma last season and posted a save percentage of 70.2 percent.
Those numbers compare favourably with Martinez, who kept seven clean sheets in 32 games while recording a save percentage of 70.9 percent across the same campaign.
Suzuki also recorded 3.3 saves per 90 minutes last season, edging Martinez’s figure of 3.02, highlighting his ability to compete at a higher level.
Manchester United, meanwhile, have already agreed a deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta and are actively pursuing further reinforcements across the squad this summer.
Their primary focus remains the midfield area, with the likes of Mateus Fernandes and Elliot Anderson among the names firmly on their radar heading into the new window.
Whether either club is willing to meet Parma’s demands without negotiation will likely determine who wins the race for one of European football’s most exciting young goalkeepers.