Everton are interested in a move for Atalanta striker Duvan Zapata, who has been a prolific presence in Serie A for many years and could prove to be the starring talisman for the Blues over the coming seasons...

What's the latest on Duvan Zapata to Everton?

There was a desire to clinch Zapata in the closing stages of the January transfer window, according to TuttoMercatoWeb, with his contract set for expiry at the end of next season and Everton's offensive struggles this season laid bare.

The Colombian talisman instead joined a long list of failed targets for the Merseyside outfit this winter, with the Toffees indeed the only Premier League outfit to fail to make a single signing, but negotiations might be revisited in the summer, according to recent claims from Tutto Atalanta.

The report claims that the forward is now deemed as expendable following his seasonal dip in form, with the emergence of prolific starlet Rasmus Højlund also a major factor behind the shift in mindset from the hierarchy.

Who is Duvan Zapata comparable to?

With Everton manager Sean Dyche perhaps yearning for a physical and dynamic forward presence, Zapata could be the man, with his track record over the past several seasons evidence of his worth.

Now 31 years old, Zapata has plundered 80 goals and 42 assists from 179 outings in Atalanta colours, but his recent fortunes have not been quite so fruitful, and he has only managed to score one goal from 17 outings this season.

The bull”, as lauded by Juan Arango, would certainly bring the high-octane approach that is somewhat missing at Goodison Park this term, with his multi-dimensional attitude to his play only sure to enhance the collective Everton offensive efforts. 

While the Merseyside strugglers have attempted to muster concerted levels of attacking potency this season, it just hasn't quite worked out, with the alarming 17 league goals scored this term the joint-lowest in the division, alongside Wolverhampton Wanderers.

And while the ace, hailed as "a freight train of a striker” and "one of the most prolific goal scorers in Europe" by journalist Matteo Bonetti, prides himself on his clinical nature, it is the all-encompassing scope of his game that could finally thread the Dyche-led attack towards prominence once more.

As per FBref, the £57k-per-week machine ranks among the top 15% of forwards across Europe for progressive passes, the top 7% for shot-creating actions and the top 17% for successful take-ons, and despite his decline in output this season, the overall efforts of his labours remain integral in contributing towards his outfit's endeavours, as illustrated by the aforementioned statistics.

Tottenham Hotspur's "world-class" striker Harry Kane - as lauded by Graeme Souness - is listed as the third most comparable player to the marksman, and it is clear to see why considering the versatility in offensive roles and the ability to bolster the fortunes of team-mates.

Kane ranks among the top 12% of forwards for assists, the top 10% for shot-creating actions and the top 3% for progressive passes, highlighting the creative similarities between the pair, and the 29-year-old record Spurs goalscorer has been one of the Premier League's most prolific strikers since bursting onto the scene years ago.

There is no question that standards have slipped for the 34-cap South American this season, but he has indeed been hampered by a niggling hamstring issue and he has boosts a wealth of pedigree in Italy, and with Dyche's outfit ostensibly displaying early signs of awakening from their long slumber, Zapata could be the frontal acquisition, the cutting edge to ensure escaping the dreaded drop-zone becomes but a distant memory.