The goalkeeper position at Manchester United is currently secured by André Onana, yet there are growing concerns about certain aspects of his performance.

Paul Scholes had predicted these issues. The Man Utd legend openly admitted before the season that Onana made him quite apprehensive. Scholes expressed a lack of confidence in Onana’s handling of aerial balls and his shot-stopping abilities.

Despite Onana’s overall solidity, recent instances, such as the goals conceded against Liverpool, have led many to expect more from him. This raises the possibility that Manchester United might soon seek a replacement. If so, Ineos could have an intriguing candidate in mind. Manchester United had shown interest in Zion Suzuki for two consecutive summers without success, but the upcoming summer might present an irresistible opportunity for the Red Devils.

Suzuki was on Manchester United’s radar in the summer of 2023 as a talented young goalkeeper from Japan. Now, Suzuki, described as ‘one of the finest talents globally,’ is proving his mettle in a top European league.

After declining Manchester United’s offer last summer in favor of joining St Truiden in Belgium, Suzuki’s choice is now seen as a shrewd move.

In his debut season in Belgium, Suzuki was the standout goalkeeper, demonstrating his quality on European soil. Now, after moving to Parma in Serie A, Suzuki continues to impress in one of Europe’s premier leagues.

To date, Suzuki has featured in 3 matches, though his third appearance was marred by a red card following an altercation with Napoli’s David Neres. Nonetheless, Suzuki has made 15 saves from 17 shots faced, achieving a save percentage of 88.2%, according to FBref—an exceptionally notable figure.

With only 2 goals conceded in these matches, Suzuki’s performance has been commendable, given the volume of shots he’s faced. His distribution is also impressive, with high pass accuracy. Specifically, Suzuki has a perfect 100% accuracy for short passes (16/16), medium-range passes (47/47), and a 48.3% accuracy for long passes (28/58).

As one of the most promising young goalkeepers in global football, Suzuki’s ongoing Serie A campaign is likely to bolster his appeal. If he continues to perform well, Manchester United should consider making a serious move for him in the summer of 2025.

Suzuki has expressed interest in moving to Old Trafford but believes the timing isn’t right at the moment. He prefers to build experience with smaller clubs first.

Suzuki commented: “There was indeed an offer from Manchester United. As a football player, I would certainly like to join Man United, but I need to carefully consider my future.

Man United already has Onana. It’s crucial to participate in matches. I want to maximize what I’ve learned and give my best.”

While Onana may not be the primary issue at Man United, replacing him in the upcoming summer could be a key step in assembling a squad capable of competing for titles.

This season, after 3 matches, Onana has faced 9 shots on target and has managed to save only 4, resulting in a save percentage of 44.4%, which is relatively low for the Premier League.

Thus, Manchester United and Ineos might set their sights on Suzuki next summer, potentially to provide competition for and eventually replace Onana.