St James' Park, Newcastle, Britain - July 29, 2022, Atalanta's Duvan Zapata in action with Newcastle United's Elliot Anderson.
Everton manager Frank Lampard reportedly wants the club to seal the signing of Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata during the January transfer window.
The Lowdown: Zapata not a regular
The 31-year-old has struggled to be a regular part of Atalanta’s team this season, only managing to start eight of his side’s 18 Serie A matches to date.
Zapata has a superb record for the Italian outfit, however, finding the net 80 times in 174 appearances, as well as also registering an impressive 40 assists.
The veteran striker is out of contract at Atalanta at the end of next season and it could be that Everton offer him a way out in the near future.
The Latest: Lampard wants move
According to Il Giorno [via Sport Witness], Everton are planning a ‘blitz for Zapata’, with the report stating that he may have played his last game for Atalanta.
It is also claimed that Lampard will personally ‘ask’ for the signing to happen and ‘negotiations’ are believed to be ‘underway’.
The Verdict: Good short-term signing for Everton?
Zapata may not quite be the player he once was, given his advancing years, but he is still someone with undoubted quality who could aid Everton’s relegation fight. His most impressive trait is his physicality, with former teammate Papu Gomez saying the striker is ‘so big his shorts look like underwear’.
The Blues’ attackers are all struggling to fire this season – Anthony Gordon, Demarai Gray, Dwight McNeil, Dominic Calvert and Neal Maupay have scored just ten Premier League goals between them this season – so bringing in the Colombian on a short-term deal makes perfect sense.
Zapata may not start every week but he is a potential match-winner who could prove to be the difference in tight matches where one moment of ruthlessness in the final third is required.
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