Chelsea eye move for £40m Japan international star to replace struggling player | Football
Chelsea are reportedly eying up a move for £40m Japan international star Zion Suzuki to replace struggling goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
Sanchez, who is currently Chelsea’s No.1, has made a series of mistakes this season, with the latest coming in the 3-1 win over Wolves on Monday.
Some football pundits, including Jamie Carragher, have claimed that the Blues won’t be able to go to the next level until they recruit a new ‘keeper.
It has now emerged that the west Londoners have ‘set their sights’ on Parma star Suzuki, who has massively impressed in Serie A this term.
That’s according to Fichajes, who report that a number of top European clubs have started keeping taps on Suzuki, including Enzo Maresca’s side.
Chelsea are thought to be particularly keen on Suzuki after ‘closely monitoring’ his progress following the expansion of their international scouting network.
It is believed that Chelsea view the 22-year-old as a ‘key player in the long term’ and Fichajes report his valuation currently stands at around £40m.
Suzuki only joined Parma in the most recent summer transfer window, with the Italian side paying just £8.5m to sign him from Urawa Red Diamonds.
It is currently thought that £40m would be enough of a profit to tempt Parma into an early sale for Suzuki, who has 16 caps for the Japan team.
Suzuki has played 20 matches for Parma to date but has already been dubbed ‘one of the most talented young keepers in Europe’ by scouts on X.
Despite concerns from pundits and fans over Chelsea No.1 Sanchez, Blues head coach Maresca has always publicly backed the goalkeeper, doing so again after his error in the victory over Wolves last time out.
‘Fourth mistake leading to a goal? And how many times has he saved us?’ Maresca said. ‘I think more than four. No problem. Mistakes happen to him, to the strikers, central defenders, no problem.
‘Robert Sanchez is doing well. [Media attention] is part of our job when you make some mistakes. Robert has saved us many times, it happens, no problem.’
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