Newcastle United reportedly bid £25m for striker who has scored 12 goals for Serie A side this season

Newcastle United have reportedly tabled a bid of €30 million (£25 million) to sign Colombian international striker Duvan Zapata from Serie A side Atalanta.

The Magpies have been working towards a deal for the 30-year old’s club teammate Robin Gosens and could make it a double swoop from the Italian side with a move for Zapata.

However, it is understood that Atalanta are looking for a fee closer to €45 million (£37.5 million) for the striker.

Here is everything you need to know about the player and what is being reported:

Who is Duvan Zapata? Newcastle United linked with Atlanta striker

Duvan Zapata is a Colombian international striker who has played for Serie A side Atalanta since 2018.

The 30-year old initially joined La Dea on-loan from Serie A rivals Napoli before making the move permanent in 2020.

Zapata has been the main man up front for Atalanta ever since, scoring 78 goals in 152 appearances across all competitions.

Featuring in both the Serie A and Champions League this season, the striker has netted 12 goals in the Serie A and the Champions League.

Newcastle fans may remember seeing him net Atalanta’s second goal in their 2-2 draw with Manchester United back in November.

Zapata has also played for Sampdoria and Udinese in Serie A as well as Argentinian side Estudiantes and América de Cali in his native Colombia where the striker began his career.

He won his first cap for the Colombian men’s international side in 2018 World Cup qualifying and made the provisional 35 man squad for the tournament before being cut for the final 23.

Zapata has since would 34 caps and scored four goals for his country.

Will Newcastle United sign Duvan Zapata? What has been reported

Reports today have said that Newcastle United have tabled a bid of €30 million (£25 million) for Duvan Zapata.

However, it is also reported that Atlanta are looking for a fee closer to €45 million (£37.5 million) for the striker who is contracted until 2023.

There are also suggestions that Zapata is the club’s second choice and is only being worked on “as an alternative” to top target Darwin Nunez.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are also continuing their pursuit of Zapata’s Atalanta teammate Robin Gosens.

According to Sky Italia, Newcastle have agreed personal terms with the Germany international.

Manchester City were also keen on a deal for Gosens but it looks likely that Newcastle could win the race.

Sky Italia claim that the Tyneside club are advancing in their talks with the Serie A club and are expected to offer a three-and-a-half-year deal that could see Gosens triple his current salary to £2.9 million per season.

Gosens could be tempted by a move to St. James’ Park if Eddie Howe’s side are willing to meet Atalanta’s £31.5 million valuation of the player.

The 27-year-old has been out since October with a hamstring injury and his return is likely to affect Newcastle’s transfer plans.

The Magpies are waiting for Gosens to recover before submitting an official bid and are likely to push a move back to the summer if his rehabilitation takes longer than expected.