The Kop Times
·23 February 2021
The Kop Times
·23 February 2021
A report by Spanish publication Todofichajes mentioned that Liverpool have ‘maintained first contact’ with Serie A side Atalanta for Duvan Zapata.
The Colombian striker has been on the radar of the Reds for a while and 2021 might be the year that the club makes a move for the 29-year-old.
Atalanta, however, would not be willing to part with their in-form striker for a fee less than €60million. Zapata has been in great form this season.
The former Udinese man has 13 goals and 10 assists in all competitions so far this season for his team. He scored one and assisted another in his side’s most recent Serie A win against Napoli. (h/t Transfermarkt)
An out-and-out No.9 is probably the one position where Jurgen Klopp has not made a notable purchase during his stay in Merseyside. The club’s current striker, Roberto Firmino, is not in good goal-scoring form.
The Brazilian has just one goal in his last 11 league games for the club. This is certainly not the goalscoring output that Klopp would hope for from his striker.
Firmino’s role goes beyond that of scoring goals, but the importance of goals from the team’s No.9 should not be undermined.
Zapata is 29 and still has a few years of football left in him. If the club does sign him, he would offer competition to Firmino up front and may even slot straight into the starting XI.
It remains to be seen if the club’s interest materializes in the player. But if the report is to be believed, it is good news for the fanbase who would not mind the club bringing in a proven goalscorer.