Reports in Italy claim that Aston Villa scouts were in attendance to watch Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who has been tipped as a potential replacement for Emiliano Martinez, who reportedly has an agreement on personal terms in place with Juventus. 

Villa scouts watching Parma’s Suzuki at 2026 World Cup

Suzuki started in goal for Japan in their 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in their opening match of the 2026 World Cup in North America: Former Lazio midfielder Daichi Kamada providing the 89th-minute equaliser in Dallas. 

The World Cup matches are coming thick and fast, but back in Europe, transfer rumours continue to circulate and reports in Italy claim that a scout from Aston Villa was in attendance in Dallas to keep an eye on Parma’s Suzuki. 

The 23-year-old, who was born in the United States and raised in Japan by Japanese and Ghanaian parents, is reportedly among Aston Villa’s list of potential replacements for Dibu Martinez should the Argentina stopper decide to leave this summer. 

Recent reports in Italy claim that Martinez has an agreement on personal terms in place with Juventus, who are willing to pay the 2022 World Cup winner a salary of €5m per season. This is slightly lower than his current wage packet at Villa Park. 

Juventus still need to strike an agreement with Villa themselves, though. The Premier League outfit are reportedly seeking a fee in the region of €10m for Martinez, who is 33 years old and is into the final year of his contract with the Premier League side. 

Juventus, meanwhile, are hoping to sign the keeper ‘practically for free’ given his age, contract situation and his reported ‘desire’ to join the Bianconeri. 

The Netherlands face Japan with a strong Serie A contingent in their starting eleven for their World Cup opener.

Roma striker Donyell Malen leads the line, Inter’s Denzel Dumfries, whose Real Madrid move is imminent, starts at right back, and former Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders lines up in the middle of the park.

Juventus’ Teun Koopmeiners, Atalanta’s Marten De Roon and Napoli’s Noa Lang, who spent the second half of the season on loan at Galatasaray, are all among the substitutes.

For Japan, Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki starts in goal, while former Lazio midfielder Daichi Kamada lines up in the centre of midfield.

Ex-Inter full-back Yuto Nagatomo is named among the substitutes at 39 years old, alongside former Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Netherlands vs Japan – World Cup 2026 Lineups

Netherlands: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Hecke, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; De Jong, Gravenberch; Summerville, Reijnders, Gakpo; Malen.

Japan: Suzuki; Taniguchi, Watanabe, H.Ito; Doan, Kamada, Sano, Nakamura; Maeda, Kubo; Ueda.

Turkey field two Serie A starters in their opening World Cup match against Australia, with Inter’s talismanic regista Hakan Calhanoglu captaining the side in midfield and Roma’s Zeki Celik starting at right back.

Juventus star Kenan Yildiz is rested among the substitutes due to a fitness concern, while former Bianconeri defender Merih Demiral lines up in central defence.

For Australia, Parma centre-back Alessandro Circati starts in defence, with Sassuolo’s Cristian Volpato among the substitutes after a late change in national allegiance from Italian ahead of the World Cup.

Australia vs Turkey – Lineups – 2026 World Cup

Australia: Beach; Circati, Italiano, Bos, Souttar, Burgess; Metcalfe, O’Neill, Okon-Engstler; Touré, Irankunda.

Turkey: Cakir; Celik, Demiral, Bardakci, Kadioglu; Kokcu, Calhanoglu, Yuksek; Akturkoglu, Guler, Yilmaz.

Juventus are pushing ahead with their attempts to sign Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa this summer, and recent updates claim that the Premier League outfit could turn to Parma’s Zion Suzuki to replace him. 

Reports from various outlets on Wednesday claimed that Juventus have an agreement on personal terms in place with 2022 World Cup winner Martinez, who will be heading into the final year of his Aston Villa contract this summer. 

Martinez is reportedly ready to accept a €5m-per-season contact offer from the Old Lady, but there is still work to do on the transfer fee, as Villa are expected to request a fee in the region of €15m for the 33-year-old, while Juventus are hoping to secure his services practically for free. 

Report Villa could replace Martinez with Suzuki

According to the latest updates from Fabrizio Romano, if Martinez is to move this summer, then Aston Villa could turn to Parma’s Suzuki instead. 

Romano claims that Villa have been scouting the Japan international for several months and that he is part of a list of three shot-stoppers that are currently under consideration by Villa. 

The 23-year-old has made 57 appearances for Parma since joining from Urawa Red Diamonds in the summer of 2024 and had been on encouraging form in the Italian top flight before missing a run of 16 league matches due to a broken hand. 

Reports from Calciomercato.com claim that Manchester City and England goalkeeper James Trafford is also among the potential options for Aston Villa should Martinez end up joining Juventus. 

Bu gün dünyanın idman arenalarında bir sıra oyunlar keçiriləcək.

Komanda.az qarşılaşmaları canlı yayımlayacaq telekanalların siyahısını təqdim edir:

8 fevral

İtaliya, A Seriyası
15:30 Bolonya – Parma (Futbol 1)
21:00 Sassuolo – İnter (Futbol 1)
23:45 Yuventus – Latsio (Futbol 1)

Azərbaycan, Premyer Liqa
16:00 Sabah – Araz-Naxçıvan (CBC Sport)
18:30 Sumqayıt – Zirə (CBC Sport)

Türkiyə, Super Liqa
18:00 Rizəspor – Qalatasaray (Futbol 3, beİN Sports 1)
21:00 Beşiktaş – Alanyaspor (Futbol 3, beİN Sports 1)

İngiltərə, Premyer Liqa
18:00 Brayton – Kristal Pelas (beİN Sports 3)
20:30 Liverpul – Mançester Siti (İdman TV)

Almaniya, Bundesliqa
20:30 Bayern – Hoffenhaym (S Sport

İspaniya, La Liqa
21:30 Atletiko – Betis (Futbol 2, Matç TV)
00:00 Valensiya – Real (İdman TV)

The post Günün oyunları – TV appeared first on Komanda.az.