Everton will reportedly ‘be offered the chance to sign’ January target Duvan Zapata in the summer, after a ‘fall-out’ at Atalanta means he will be available for £10million.
Everton’s need for goals this season has been as plain as day. Indeed, the Toffees have scored the least amount of goals of any Premier League side this season – 17 – and are in 18th place, threatened by the drop.
Top goalscorer Demarai Gray has netted just five times in all competitions. What’s more, a month after leaving the club, Anthony Gordon is still second on the list with three.
The Toffees were linked with Atalanta forward Zapata in January. However, reports suggested they had a deadline day bid knocked back, and Everton were left without any incomings in the winter window.
Now, it seems they’ll have the chance to sign Zapata after all. Indeed, The Mirror reports Everton ‘will be offered the chance to sign’ the forward in the summer.
That’s because of a ‘behind-the-scenes fall-out’ at Atalanta. That report suggests Sean Dyche’s side will have the chance to sign the striker for just £10million.
While hip problems have hindered him this season and he’s scored just once, he’s been rather prolific over the past few seasons. Indeed, Zapata scored 10 Serie A goals last term, a tally which followed hauls of 15 and 18 the two seasons prior.
As such, if he’s able to get back to that level, the Toffees would be getting a quality player, and with their need for goals, that would be a big plus.
However, it could be too little, too late. The threat of relegation is real and goals are needed this season, which is why strikers were being targeted in January.
It’s no use adding a prolific forward who could have kept you from relegation if you’re already down. Yes, he’d likely be a top asset in the Championship.
But Everton will rue that they weren’t able to get it done in January if they are to go down. They’ll hope they manage to keep themselves up without the help of Zapata, and he’d likely be a welcome option up top for next season if they are still in the Premier League.
That could put them in a better position for next season, when the threat of relegation might not be as daunting.
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