Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has had his sights set on 28-year-old Udinese striker Duvan Zapata, who has played 6 times for the Columbian National side.
He has been on loan this season to Atalanta and the striker has had an excellent season scoring 20 goals in 30 league games for his club.
West Ham have been previously interested in the striker.
Fcinternews are reporting that Inter-Milan are now interested in keeping the striker in Italy, and they had a scout at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia last Monday night as Atalanta and Empoli played out a 0-0 draw.
The report is that the 28-year-old could replace Argentine International striker Mauro Icardi, who is almost certain to leave Inter this summer.
Atalanta have an option to buy the player at the end of his loan in the summer, but the news is Atalanta want to sell him immediately – presumably for a large profit.
Roma have also expressed an interest in the player.
28-year-old Serie A striker Duvan Zapata
Atalanta are likely to ask €50M (£43M) for the player who has said many times he admires Rafa Benitez as a coach – Zapata was on Napoli’s books when Rafa was there from 2013-2015.
West Ham United have been reported to have failed with a massive €40M bid for him in January.
We’d be very surprised if Mike Ashley would pay out over £40M for a 28-year-old.
The chances of signing Zapata seem slim indeed.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
21 comments so far
ronaldo aarons
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:44 PM
Comment #1NUFC 360
@NUFC360
·
2h
Charnley on training ground: “We are looking at a training ground project between £15m and £20m.
“If you were to ask me now, do I think we are best served spending £15m to £20m on a training facility or on improving the team, I think that money is best spent on the team.” #nufc
ronaldo aarons
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:45 PM
Comment #2If Rafa Goes We Go
@IfRafaGoesWeGo
·
2h
#NUFC accounts confirm that IF Ashley sold the club for £300 million he would make a profit of £55 million.
The club purchased goods from Sports Direct to the value of £1.44 million in 2018.
Bleeding us dry.
toon22
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:46 PM
Comment #3We have that 5 year plan,dont we ?
You really think Rafa will sign for another 3 years of this bullox ?
ronaldo aarons
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:46 PM
Comment #4Feel like in a flooding mood if you can’t tell 😀
toon22
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:47 PM
Comment #5JIB
have you found any of that asset stripping yet ?
😉
ronaldo aarons
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:47 PM
Comment #6Ian Summers
@iansumm03608301
Breaking news! Newcastle United have just announced they have learned absolutely nothing and will continue to make the same mistakes over and over again.
Mag :P
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:48 PM
Comment #7Same old from the regime.
Can’t wait for the day they piss off.
Average_Contents
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:54 PM
Comment #8“We are convinced this is the way forward”
Who’s “we” penfold?
Is this the same “we” that’s got us relegated twice? Instead of listening to a world class manager they’ll stick to the same deluded plan or lack there of.
If that’s not two fingers to Rafa then I don’t know what is!
Fcuking cretins.
Ron Knee
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:55 PM
Comment #9“Spare a thought for the Benfica fan who has rocked up in the wrong Frankfurt after travelling to Germany to support the Portuguese leaders.
“Alvaro Oliveira made the 28-hour car journey from Lisbon but instead of turning up in the city where his team is defending a 4-2 first leg lead, he has turned up in the town which has the same name on the Poland-Germany border – about 350 miles from where he should be.”
Didn’t Asprilla take the wrong plane once? Wanted to fly to Spain but went to Italy instead (or vice versa).
Average_Contents
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:56 PM
Comment #10I’d chip in for someone to punch that squirming maggot in the face.
#punchpenfold
Ron Knee
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:57 PM
Comment #11“We are looking at a training ground project between £15m and £20m…”
Three or even four Joselus!
Average_Contents
Apr 18, 2019 at 7:57 PM
Comment #12Ron knee
I think I’ve got it bad driving to France in May.
Poor sod lol
Ron Knee
Apr 18, 2019 at 8:00 PM
Comment #13France closes down in May, A_C.
Average_Contents
Apr 18, 2019 at 8:02 PM
Comment #14Two Joselu’s at a push Ron, get it right!
There’s transport fees (probably his brother) meet n greets, digestives (custard creams are only for the fat slug) and a whole host of other things that no other club or player for that matter has ever heard of that need adding on to the total value.
Geez, give the club a break
Average_Contents
Apr 18, 2019 at 8:03 PM
Comment #15Kit kats, no chance.
Average_Contents
Apr 18, 2019 at 8:06 PM
Comment #16Bad time to go Ron. All booked and has been for a while. Got my insurance green card thingymabob, international permit and stickers all raring to go mate.
Just need to pay the tolls in advance ( heard it’s quicker than on the day) that right?
NY Mag
Apr 18, 2019 at 8:09 PM
Comment #17Average,
Just read your response on the previous page…..well done – keep ‘em coming. 🙂
Tsunki
Apr 18, 2019 at 8:09 PM
Comment #18Just looking at the Chronicles of Charnlia ha ha it does strike me as mildly funny that anyone would think Ashley was going anywhere when he was busy entrenching Asian connections as per his long held wish to get SD into the Orient.
Ron Knee
Apr 18, 2019 at 8:12 PM
Comment #19A_C
Yes. Lots of bank holidays in May usually & people have to use up all their holiday entitlement by the end of the month – so there could be a lot of traffic on the roads.
Jail for Ashley
Apr 18, 2019 at 8:12 PM
Comment #20It’s absolutely maddening,to me it looks they’re saying he can have transfer money or training facilities but not both and that their policy is staying the same, they must surely realise that the profits they seem so proud of will disappear once Rafa goes and we will not bounce back. We waited 24hrs to be told nothing at all and left to interpret that nothing has changed.
Mister Tuff
Apr 18, 2019 at 8:14 PM
Comment #21Average – just to be extra sure last month I got a 68 IDP just in case there is any driving shenanigans in France in the summer.