INEOS optical replacement for star £120k-p/w

The managerial saga at Manchester United is finally over. Following weeks of discussions and the club carrying out its season review from the 2023/24 campaign, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team have decided on the future of Erik ten Hag. He will stay on as United manager ahead of next season, as first reported by journalist David Ornstein.

In fact, not only will Ten Hag keep his job at the Old Trafford club, but he will also be supported by a new contract, which may be released soon, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Now, with the decision finally made, it means the Red Devils can start working on the transfer market, as they look to climb back from the bottom eight in the Premier League last season. The delay means they have already lost market power, and The Standard reported last week that Chelsea would look to challenge them to sign Michael Olise.

However, there is one player INEOS are interested in who could lead the race to sign him, and they could seal the deal if they act quickly enough.

Man Utd are eyeing an international goalkeeper

The player in question here is Belgium's Sint-Truiden and Japan international goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. United tried to sign the 21-year-old last summer, but he rejected the offer, and it is thought they could return with a bid in 2024.

According to a report by Japanese newspaper Sonichi Soccer, and Simon Barlow in The Sun, the Red Devils are once again interested in acquiring the services of Suzuki at Old Trafford, after being rejected last summer. He threw Old Trafford to ensure he would be Japan's first Olympic goalkeeper, a position he has already made his own.

However, United are no longer the only side looking to sign the young goalkeeper. The Italian team Genoa is also in the process of signing Suzuki, and he may play with United as both clubs want to strengthen the goalkeeper department.

According to Barlow, the Japanese player was 'watched' by United scouts during a pre-Olympics training session in the United States of America, sparking their interest once again. Last summer, the asking price was £5m, but it is unclear whether that will be the same price or higher this summer.

How does Suzuki compare to Andre Onana

Suzuki had an impressive debut campaign in European football with Sint-Truiden. In 32 games in all competitions, he scored 50 goals and kept one clean sheet, helping his side to a ninth place finish in the major Pro League, as well as a third place finish in the European play-offs.

Standing at 6 foot 2, one of Suzuki's best qualities is his “mad ability” – like one scout – and his crazy quest. According to FBref, he was one of the best strikers among goalkeepers in Europe last season, stopping 1.73 crosses per 90 minutes, which put him in the top 3%, his success rate in 90 at 11.9% puts him in the top. 2%.

The Japanese player is also confident with the ball at his feet. Last season he averaged 40.91 passes per 90, which ranked him in the top 7% of goalkeepers in Europe. In comparison, according to FBref, United's current starter Andre Onana averaged 35.48 passes per 90. Ten Hag likes its goalkeepers to be comfortable on the ball, and both Cameroonia and Suzuki are equal in that sense.

Indeed, if he were to join United, Suzuki could one day hope to claim a starting spot and overtake United's £120k-a-week goalkeeper. Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig said he was “on fire” last season at Sint-Truiden, and called him “Japan's number one”. He is definitely a top goalkeeper.

United currently have three first team goalkeepers; Onana, Turkey's Altay Bayindir and veteran Tom Heaton. However, Bayindir only made one appearance last season and may want to leave this summer to play regularly. Heaton is starting a coaching job, too, which leaves the door open for Suzuki to become United's number two, and possibly first-choice in the future.

Whether this deal goes through or not, remains to be seen. But if United sign Suzuki – who has been dubbed a “top” talent by his Urawa Reds coach Maciej Skorza – it would represent excellent business for the goalkeeper's clearly top-rated future.