Journalist Pete O'Rourke has claimed Southampton have made a very late attempt to loan 31-year-old striker Duvan Zapata.

The Lowdown: Southampton not finished this month

Southampton looked to have found their man to fire in the goals that would ensure their Premier League safety in the form of Braga's Vitinha after they reportedly triggered his release clause.

However, the Portuguese decided to snub the Saints in favour of moving to Ligue 1 giants Marseille, who are currently pushing for a spot in next season's Champions League.

It's no surprise that Vitinha preferred a move to France, but Southampton certainly aren't sitting around feeling sorry for themselves, having already reportedly moved on to their next target in the form of Atalanta's Zapata.

The Latest: Zapata now on the radar

Sport Republic have lodged a loan bid for the Colombian, which doesn't include an obligation to buy come the end of the season, according to O'Rourke, who wrote in Football Insider:

"Southampton have made a beat-the-deadline move for Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata.

"The Saints have submitted a loan offer with an option to buy for the 31-year-old."

Zapata is certainly entering the twilight years of his career and losing his powers in front of goal, which is highlighted by the fact his goalscoring numbers have been on the decline since the 2018/19 season.

The Verdict: 31-year-old doesn't fit the bill

The fact that Atalanta quoted Newcastle United £35m for Zapata this time last year goes to show how quickly his career has declined out in Italy, so Southampton should be very cautious with this deal.

Meanwhile, the fact this deal would reportedly only include an option to buy means Southampton wouldn't be handcuffed in the summer, although they would still likely have to cover his wages and appease someone who's recently played Champions League football.

Landing someone such as Zapata, who boasts a record of 107 goals in 270 Serie A games, would probably excite a lot of Saints fans, but when they are being linked with a move for Paul Onuachu - a younger striker in better form - the Zapata deal doesn't make a whole lot of sense.