Manchester United have made a “formal offer” for Urawa Reds goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, according to Sponichi.

The Japanese sports newspaper claims that the Red Devils are prepared to pay £5m for the 20-year-old, which would break the J League transfer record.

It is believed that Suzuki has been on the club’s radar for a long time, having first come to their attention all the way back in 2017.

Since then, he has made 28 first-team appearances for Urawa, as well as being handed his first senior cap for Japan against Hong Kong last year.

Suzuki’s background

The keeper has a Ghanaian father and a Japanese mother but he was actually born in the United States before growing up in Saitama.

Suzuki signed his first professional contract at 16, and he is very much a modern-style goalkeeper, having taken inspiration from Manchester City’s Ederson to improve his kicking game.

Despite only being 20, he is also pretty imposing physically, standing at almost 6ft 3 tall, so there would be no concerns about adapting to English football.

United may be in the market for two goalkeepers this summer

From the looks of things, manager Erik ten Hag is keen to recruit a new number one, as well as a younger understudy who can fill in when required.

With David De Gea now a free agent and Dean Henderson set to leave Old Trafford on a permanent transfer, it is an area of the pitch that needs to be strengthened significantly.

The Red Devils have already made one bid worth up to £39m for Inter Milan’s Andre Onana, which has been turned down, but the Manchester club are expected to make a second offer for the Cameroon international.

It seems as if deals for both Onana and Suzuki are being worked on concurrently so we shall see if United can complete both transfers in the coming days.