Everton handed big transfer blow in the chase of £15m man as Fabrizio Romano provides update

Everton want to add a striker to their ranks in the winter transfer window and have registered interest in multiple players across Europe. Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata is one of them but as things stand the Toffees have received a huge blow in the chase of the Colombian.

The Toffees have been in talks simultaneously with multiple clubs for strikers and so far none of the deals are close to completion. In fact, some of their attacking targets have moved to other clubs like Danny Ings who joined West Ham United. Some of their targets, like Moussa Dembele, are skeptical about moving to Goodison Park, given the relegation troubles that surround the club.

Despite the difficulties in getting any deal over the line, Everton are close to completing the loan acquisition of Arnaut Danjuma from Villarreal. EFC will still want to strengthen their docile attack and Atalanta forward Zapata is a profile that is admired among the Everton hierarchy.

The Toffees had proposed a loan deal with an option to buy for £15 million in the summer transfer window. Zapata has just returned from injury and had an injury troubled 2022. This season, the 31 year old has netted a solitary goal in Serie A and is still far from getting to the best version of himself.

Everton suffer transfer blow in Duvan Zapata chase

Everton is not the only club interested in Zapata. There are multiple English clubs monitoring Zapata’s situation and want to take him on loan until the end of the season. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Bergamo club have informed Everton and all other potential suitors that they are not interested in loaning out Zapata and will not accept any loan bid.

Atalanta manager Giampaolo Gasperini counts on Zapata and considers him as an important part of the team. This will come as a huge blow for the Merseysiders as any chance of signing Zapata has now vanished in thin air. EFC will now have to turn to other targets as Frank Lampard aims to work with a competitive squad for a survival battle.

Time is running out for the Toffees to add reinforcements to the squad. With a relegation battle on the cards, Everton can’t sit and experiment with signings. They need to get it absolutely spot on with the winter signings as the incoming players will have to hit the ground running from their first day.

With Duvan Zapata going nowhere, which forward should EFC target?