Qatar twist emerges in Everton bid to sign Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata as £10million development shared
Everton are facing competition from the Middle East for Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata, according to the Sunday Mirror.
Il Giorno claimed (20 March) the Toffees are lining up a £13.1million bid for the 31-year-old Colombian striker ahead of the summer window.
However, The Sunday Mirror now suggest (pg 74, 26 March) the leading clubs from Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been alerted to his availability.
Atalanta are believed to be looking for £10million for Zapata and are willing to sell if the right bid arrives. It’s understood Everton have been kept informed on his situation after a failed bid in January.
Needed
A new number nine is required – whether Zapata is the answer is up for debate. The Colombian has been prolific in Italy but is entering the latter stages of his career. He will command another big contract and could well be a player for the club to avoid.
Looking to land a younger striker with more longevity could be the route for Kevin Thelwell and the board to go down. We’ve seen the success of Amadou Onana during the 2022/23 season, and it’s something which could well be replicated in forward areas.
Once again, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been disappointing and plagued by injury issues. Furthermore, Neal Maupay has been an extremely poor addition. It’s time the board finally acted and landed a prolific striker who could solve the Toffees’ long-standing goalscoring issues.
If Zapata was four or five years younger, then this is a move we could certainly get behind. It will be interesting to see how this saga unfolds heading into the summer window.