Premier League strugglers Newcastle United will make a new bid for Serie A hotshot Duvan Zapata today, according to Tuttomercatoweb, one that will come close to matching Atalanta’s £33 million price-tag.
La Dea certainly won’t be bullied when it comes to their star striker. Newcastle found that out the hard way this week.
Sources in Italy claim that the newly-minted Magpies had a loan-to-buy bid rejected for Atalanta’s powerhouse Colombian.
Tuttomercatoweb say their opening offer was swatted aside with barely a second thought.
Newcastle are not taking no for an answer, however.
It is understood that Newcastle will make a new – and vastly improved – offer on Wednesday.
It’s not certain whether the Saudi-backed Tynesiders will meet Atalanta’s £33 million demands. But they will certainly come close.
Will Duvan Zapata be Newcastle’s next striker?
The 2020 Champions League quarter-finalists have no problem with letting Newcastle sign Zapata on an initial loan deal. As long as it contains an ‘obligation-to-buy’ clause. None of that ‘option-to-buy’ nonsense please.
Personal terms will not be an issue.
Newcastle have already agreed a three-and-a-half year contract with Zapata.
The 30-year-old, who is often compared to Romelu Lukaku due to his fearsome blend of speed, power and ruthless finishing skills, will earn £100,000-a-week at St James’ Park.
That is a massive increase on the £30,000-a-week pay-packet the ‘Beast of Bergamo’ currently takes home at Atalanta.
TMW add that Zapata is Newcastle’s number one striker target, despite the recent £25 million addition of Chris Wood from Burnley.
Newcastle are also eyeing up Ligue 1 wonderkid Hugo Ekitike, Alexandre Lacazette, Alassane Plea and Ignatius Ganago.
The president of Turkish outfit Adama Demirspor, meanwhile, claims that Newcastle have made an approach for none other than Mario Balotelli.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, it seems.
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