An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their pursuit of Duvan Zapata in the summer transfer window... 

What's the talk?

According to Tutto Mercato Web, the Magpies are set to reignite their interest in the Colombia international after missing out on him in January.

The report claims that they attempted to secure a loan deal for the second half of the 2021/22 campaign, with an option to sign him permanently in the summer.

Atalanta refused their offer and it is now claimed that Newcastle are eyeing a bid to sign him on a permanent basis in the current window. His club value him at €40m (£34m) but it remains to be seen how much PIF are willing to pay for him.

Eddie Howe's own Harry Kane

The Magpies can land their own version of the England captain by securing a deal to sign the 31-year-old centre-forward in the coming weeks.

FBRef lists the pair as being similar players based on their statistics for their respective clubs over the last 365 days of action domestically and in Europe.

Zapata ranks in the 90th percentile or higher in his position for shot-creating actions, non-penalty xG + xA, assists and shots per 90. Kane, meanwhile, ranks in the 86th percentile or higher in those categories, which shows that both players are adept at scoring and creating from a number nine position.

The Atalanta man has proven his quality over the course of a number of years in the Serie A. In four top-flight campaigns for his current club, he has scored 66 goals and assisted 29 in 126 matches - averaging a goal contribution more than once every two outings.

His former teammate Papu Gomez previously lauded his strength, 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 suggests that he also has the physicality required to compete in the Premier League and that will then allow him to showcase his prowess in the final third as he is able to hold off defenders to get his shots and passes away.

He can, therefore, be Howe's own version of Kane at St. James' Park next season - scoring and assisting goals on a regular basis.

AND in other news, PIF could land their own Aguero as NUFC eye deal to sign "exceptional" £13m phenomenon...