Newcastle United may now have a real chance of signing Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata, with a loan-to-buy deal seemingly on the cards.
That’s according to The Sunday Mirror (23/01, p72), who claim that Atalanta are now willing to loan Zapata out for around £8million.
Atalanta are understood to value Zapata at around £34million but could allow him to head to Newcastle on loan with a permanent option.
The report adds that Zapata has now decided he wants to sign for Newcastle and club officials are now trying to get the deal done.
Newcastle allegedly tried to sign Zapata earlier this month, but turned to Chris Wood when they couldn’t get a deal done.
Now sensing new hope of temping Atalanta into a deal for Zapata, Newcastle are back at the negotiating table.
Zapata, 30, seemingly senses that this may be his final chance to make a huge move to the Premier League.
The Colombian hitman has spent most of his career in Italy, turning out for the likes of Napoli, Udinese, Sampdoria and now Atalanta.
In 152 games for La Dea, Zapata has racked up 78 goals as well as 38 assists. Far from just a goalscorer, Zapata brings others into play brilliantly.
Compared to Romelu Lukaku by Riccardo Ferri, Zapata is incredibly strong and deadly inside the penalty area.
Add in Zapata’s turn of pace and the Colombian hitman is a complete striker, a player Newcastle simply do not have in their club.
There will be concerns about Zapata’s age, and that’s more than fair.
If Newcastle pay £8million to take Zapata on loan and then activate a hefty purchase clause, Newcastle will be committing huge money to a player whose resale value will decline.
That isn’t a nightmare in a vacuum, but having also paid fairly big money for Wood too, who also fits that kind of bill, and you can understand some concern.
Zapata could be Newcastle’s very own Lukaku, but it will all hinge on the purchase option being to Atalanta’s liking.
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