Aston Villa close in on €35m Zion Suzuki deal after two-year pursuit

Zion Suzuki is closing in on a move to Aston Villa after the Premier League club accelerated plans for a goalkeeper they have reportedly tracked for two years.

According to Sportmediaset, the Japan international is undergoing his Villa medical, with Unai Emery's side set to pay Parma €30m plus €5m in bonuses.

The development comes after a proposed move to Paris Saint-Germain collapsed, despite Suzuki previously appearing close to joining the European champions.

Corriere dello Sport reports that Suzuki's decision has been viewed positively in Italy because of the circumstances surrounding his options.

The 23-year-old was not expected to become PSG's first-choice goalkeeper immediately, with Juventus waiting to potentially take him on loan.

Suzuki had reportedly accepted the possibility of joining Juventus temporarily but did not want to wait indefinitely for PSG to finalise their plans.

Villa were ready to act.

The Premier League club had developed a strong relationship with Suzuki's representatives during recent weeks after initially discussing a potential move earlier in the summer.

The goalkeeper then had little hesitation in accepting Villa's proposal.

Aston Villa's interest is not a sudden response to the collapse of Suzuki's PSG move.

The report claims Villa have monitored him for two years, identifying the Japan international as a potential long-term successor to Emi Martinez.

That long-standing interest could also have influenced Suzuki's willingness to choose Villa Park, where there appears to be a clear long-term plan for his development.

Suzuki spent two seasons as a regular at Parma and produced some of his strongest performances towards the end of last season after returning from a lengthy injury absence.

There have also been high-profile mistakes during his time in Italy, meaning patience could be required as he adapts to the Premier League.

At 23, however, Suzuki remains young for a goalkeeper and has already developed a reputation as a vocal presence and leader.

Provided Suzuki completes his medical without problems, Aston Villa can move towards finalising his transfer from Parma.

Attention will then turn to Emery's plans for the goalkeeper and how quickly he is introduced to Premier League football. Villa's two-year pursuit suggests this is a long-term investment rather than a short-term reaction to the goalkeeper market.