Newcastle United held talks with Atalanta for Duván Zapata last week, according to TuttoMercatoWeb.
The Magpies strengthened their attack by adding Chris Wood to their squad this month and want to further bolster it in the winter market.
After identifying the Colombia international as a target, the Magpies made an offer to sign the 30-year-old on a loan deal with an ‘obligation to redeem’.
TMW say a ‘concrete proposal has been received’ from Newcastle, but the ‘first offer’ was ‘rejected’ by the Serie A side.
Zapata’s current deal expires in 2023 and Gian Piero Gasperini’s side will let him leave the club this month, ‘only for a cash offer’ of €40m.
They have no plans to cut ties with the striker midway through the season, however, the fee quoted is an ‘unachievable figure’ for a player who will turn 31 years of age in April. If the Tyneside club were to make an offer of €40m cash, then the South American ‘will be sold’.
The positions of the two clubs are ‘very far apart’ at the moment, but Eddie Howe’s side have ‘not closed the possibility’ to sign Zapata in January. There is an ‘principle of agreement’ between the English club and the player for a three-and-a-half-year deal worth €6.5m per season.
Atalanta, for their part, have no intention to offer discounts and only a ‘cash offer’ of €40m will convince them to let go of Zapata in the ongoing window. If their set conditions are met, a deal will take place.
Otherwise, the frontman is expected to finish the season in Bergamo.
