Exclusive: Newcastle plan new bid for €35m Zapata
Jacque Talbot
- Updated: 24 Feb 2022 15:29 GMT
- 3 min read
Newcastle are still actively interested in signing Duvan Zapata, despite their failed move for the Atalanta striker in the January transfer window, FootballTransfers understands.
The Premier League side saw their loan bid – including a €26 million option-to-buy clause - rejected last month.
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West Ham also made a move to sign Zapata on Deadline Day, but it’s the Magpies who are holding firm in their pursuit of the Colombian ahead of the summer transfer window.
The prolific striker’s contract expires in 2023 and Atalanta don’t wish to lose him on a free transfer.
PROFILE: Who is Duvan Zapata? The €35m spearhead of Newcastle revolution?
Thus, if a contract renewal isn't agreed upon, the Italians will sell the player this summer. Atalanta value Zapata at around €35m.
Manager Eddie Howe is eager to sign another striker after they only managed to buy one forward in the last window.
Hugo Ekitike, the French forward likened to Kylian Mbappe, opted to remain with Reims despite a bid of €30m (plus €10m in clauses) being accepted from his club.
As a secondary option, Chris Wood arrived from Burnley for €29.9m after Newcastle activated his release clause.
Wood has yet to score for the North East side, while Joelinton has reverted into a central midfield role and Dwight Gayle remains seemingly surplus to requirements.
But despite their lack of guile in front of goal, Newcastle have still managed to pick up good results recently and remain unbeaten this year.
Should they stay in the Premier League, Zapata is a figure who will match the lofty ambitions of the club’s wealthy owners.
Can Zapata succeed in the Premier League?
The only reservation that some might have is Zapata’s age. But even at 30 years old, the Colombian is showing no signs of decline.
Leading the line for a high-scoring Gian Piero Gasperini side for the past four years, Zapata has netted 78 goals in 153 games in all competitions.
This season he has 12 goals in 23 but he is set for a long period on the sidelines with a hamstring problem that will rule him out until at least April.
Zapata is a strong, technical, target man who also possesses good mobility; the striker is, in essence, an all-rounder and would be a suitable target for most top clubs.
The pursuit of Champions League football is of high importance for Zapata - and maybe even a deciding factor in signing a new deal at his current club. Atalanta are currently in fifth place, three points off the Champions League spots but with a game in hand.
His weekly wage of €64,000-per-week could be almost doubled at Newcastle, who still have a sizeable €112m of funds to utilise without falling foul of Financial Fair Play.
