Aston Villa's January transfer priority is obvious after latest development
Aston Villa should be making plans to add a new goalkeeper to Unai Emery's ranks in January as Zion Suzuki prepares for Asian Cup duty with Japan.
Suzuki has established himself as Villa's new number one following a £25.7million move from Parma in August.
Emery allowed Emi Martinez to move on after his arrival, with Marco Bizot kept on as the Villans' number two for the season ahead.
The 24-year-old Japan international has impressed in his first few appearances for Villa despite their shaky form as a team.
They may be without Suzuki for eight games in the new year as he prepares to represent his country at the Asian Cup.
Emery should be accelerating plans to sign a new backup keeper to deputise in his absence, given Bizot's previous struggles and contract length.
Aston Villa should bring goalkeeper plans forward as Zion Suzuki blow looms
Suzuki, in his current vein of form, will be a huge miss for Villa if he leaves for the whole month of January to be Japan's number one at the tournament, as is expected.
The 24-year-old ranks highly among Premier League keepers so far this season for save percentage (75%), saves per 90 (3.75), high claims per 90 (1.75) and successful passes per 90 (25.2).
His performances will be tough to replicate for 35-year-old Bizot, who struggled last season in the PL as he conceded 10 goals in six appearances and emerged with a save percentage of just 65.5.
Villa fans have never truly been convinced by the Dutchman, and neither has Emery, with his sole league showing so far this term coming in their 4-0 loss to Brighton to start the campaign.
He is already set to leave next summer at the end of his contract at 36-years-old, so it would surely make a lot of sense for Villa to effectively replace him in January with a better backup keeper in Suzuki's likely absence.
Ex-Villa scout unconvinced by Suzuki's Premier League start
Suzuki is not the finished article, despite impressing in his first six weeks as a Villa player.
Former Villa scout, Bryan King, has exclusively told Football Insider that he is unsure about Suzuki's eccentric style of play, saying: "He makes spectacular saves when they certainly look simpler than the way he makes them at times. I just think the way he approaches games, he's very similar to the goalkeeper that Man United brought in, Onana.
"We know what happened to him. Let's hope it doesn't happen to Aston Villa's new signing. He's still got things to prove to me before I'll say he's going to be a top keeper in the Premier League. I think there's always a mistake in there with him."
Such a verdict should only push Villa to make a new goalkeeper signing in January to provide genuine competition to the Japan star in case his form drops off.