The Newcastle United Blog | Newcastle make £25m move to provide Howe with more attacking firepower – report

Just days after probing Atalanta left-back Robin Gosens, Newcastle have made a move for team-mate Duvan Zapata according to Ducan Castles in The Daily Record.

Although there are no offer reports for Gosens, Castles say Newcastle have offered £25m for the 30-year-old striker. Zapata, like Gosens, is entering the last 18 months of his contract.

Atalanta are said to be willing to sell the Colombian, who has played for various Italian clubs since 2013. Although they value him at around £38.5m, if this report is correct they could reject the offer. Newcastle opening.

Zapata joined Atalanta in 2018, initially on a two-year loan from Sampdoria. The move was made permanent in the summer of 2020 for just under £10million. He scored 78 goals in 156 appearances for The Goddess.

His strike rate for Atalanta notably exceeds his output from his time with Sampdoria and Napoli, who he joined in 2013 from Argentine Estudiantes. The Colombian was also loaned out to Udinese.

Zapata has excelled spearheading Gian Perio Gasperini’s 3-4-2-1 system for the past three years. During his time in Italy, he scored 123 goals in just over 300 appearances.

According to Salary Sport, he is on £57,000 a week, which Newcastle could significantly increase as the striker’s last day of pay, who turns 31 in April. He would be keen to move if a fee was agreed.

After our dismal display against Cambridge, Newcastle have reportedly decided to target two strikers in this window. They landed Chris Wood, 30, on Thursday and negotiated for French teenager Hugo Ekitike from Reims.

However, Castles believe Zapata is being sued as Newcastle have been ruled out of a move for Darwin Nunez from Benfica, who is valued at £50million. Newcastle had to drop a few of their top targets due to inflated fee quotes.

Like Wood, Zapata could be a great provisional signing over the next few years. He would offer another option upfront for Wood and Callum Wilson upon his return from injury.

If Newcastle can land another experienced striker in January, it would mean the club are determined to have enough firepower to help secure the goals that can hopefully stave off relegation.

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