An update has emerged on Newcastle United's pursuit of Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata...

What's the talk?

According to The Mirror, via TEAMtalk, the Magpies are pushing to complete a deal to sign the attacker on loan with an obligation to land him permanently in the summer.

The report claims that the player is keen on a move to St. James' Park, with the Serie A side wanting a £34m transfer fee and £8m to allow the initial loan.

New Demba Ba

Eddie Howe must ensure that the club are able to get this transfer over the line as the powerhouse could be a sensational signing for the side.

The Magpies could find Demba Ba 2.0 in a swoop for the striker, as he is a proven number nine who can be a talismanic figure for Howe.

Ba, who also played for Chelsea, scored ten headers, two free-kicks, three penalties, 27 goals with his right foot and six with his left foot during his Premier League career.

This shows that he was capable of scoring a variety of goals and was not a one-dimensional attacker for Newcastle, which is something that Zapata could replicate on Tyneside.

Throughout his career to date, the Colombian has scored 35 headers, 52 goals with his right foot and 16 with his left foot. In total, he has scored an impressive 78 strikes and provided 38 assists in 152 games for Atalanta.

This suggests that he could offer a similar level of quality to Ba in terms of his all-around play as a centre-forward at the top level, which is why he could be a fantastic addition to Howe's squad.

His ex-teammate Papu Gomez once lauded his physical attributes, saying: “Zapata's shorts look like underwear, he is so big. Sometimes I don't even want to get close to him in a match because he's a beast and it hurts. When he is feeling good he's like a train – you throw the ball forward and 'ciao!'”

This means that, much like Ba did, he could have the strength and running power to succeed at Premier League level. These comments indicate that he will not be caught out by the physical requirements of the division and that could allow him to thrive in England.

Hopefully, the club will be able to iron out a deal with Atalanta to bring him on an initial loan, as it would mean that they can send him straight back to Italy if they are relegated.

Carrying his wages at Championship level could be a burden, which is why this move could be ideal for the Magpies if they are able to get it over the line.

AND in other news, Howe plotting late NUFC swoop for "outstanding" £61k-p/w beast, fans will be amazed...