Newcastle in Suzuki talks with £17m deal on offer - Report

Newcastle United could be set to land Japan star Zion Suzuki ahead of the new season.

The Magpies are on the hunt for a new goalkeeper with Nick Pope now in the final year of his contract and being linked with an exit this summer.

Confidence in the former England stopper has waned over the last 12 months, and a new first-choice goalkeeper is one of the priority signings of the summer.

It had looked as though James Trafford was still at the top of the list for Eddie Howe, but on Sunday it was reported that Newcastle had approached Serie A side Parma over a potential move for 23-year-old Zion Suzuki.

Suzuki was offered to Newcastle

The Chronicle has since claimed that Suzuki's representatives actually approached Newcastle to alert them to his availability this summer.

Newcastle haven't yet made a decision, but with a value of just £17 million, it could be an attractive proposition for the Magpies, especially as James Trafford would almost certainly cost over £40 million.

Other clubs are likely to be interested in Suzuki, particularly after his performances at the World Cup, so Newcastle will need to act fast if they decide to pursue a deal.

Newcastle have a big decision to make

James Trafford is still the top priority by all accounts, but the 23-year-old is waiting until England's World Cup is over before making a decision on his future. There's also the matter of Manchester City having a new manager who may have different plans for Trafford.

As with every player Newcastle are looking at, there's so much potential for us to miss out to other clubs who can offer more. Tottenham Hotspur are thought to be keen on Trafford, and they're undergoing a very exciting rebuild right now, and that could easily sway it for Trafford.

Suzuki is a fantastic keeper and is the same age as Trafford and less than half the price. Would it make more sense to opt for Suzuki now and try to pip the competition, or do we wait until Trafford is ready to talk and take our chances that we can convince him to join?