West Ham transfer news: Hammers plot £35m Duvan Zapata bid - Atalanta know their answer
WEST HAM have identified Duvan Zapata as a potential replacement for Marko Arnautovic and are weighing up a £35m move for the hitman, reports in Italy claim.
West Ham are therefore scouting around to see who could replace Arnautovic if he does quit the London Stadium.
And Italian newspaper Tuttosport claim Zapata is in their sights amid his red-hot scoring streak at Atalanta.
The on-loan Sampdoria striker scored four goals on Sunday as Gian Piero Gasperini’s side thrashed Frosinone 5-0.
And that made it 14 goals in his last eight appearances, with 17 strikes in 27 games his total for the season.
West Ham transfer news: Hammers plot £35m Duvan Zapata bid - Atalanta know their answer (Image: GETTY/TUTTOSPORT)
West Ham transfer news: Hammers plot £35m Duvan Zapata bid - Atalanta know their answer (Image: GETTY)
West Ham are now said to be planning a mega £35m (€40m) move to get Zapata on board before the end of the month.
Atalanta, though, have the option to buy him for less themselves and will knock back the Hammers’ advances.
Atalanta can snap Zapata up for what would be a club-record £23m (€26m) per the terms of their loan agreement with Sampdoria.
And their unwillingness to sell him on means West Ham are facing having to go back to the drawing board.
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West Ham transfer news: Hammers plot £35m Duvan Zapata bid - Atalanta know their answer (Image: TUTTOSPORT)
West Ham transfer news: Hammers plot £35m Duvan Zapata bid - Atalanta know their answer (Image: GETTY)
The blow to West Ham’s chances of replacing Arnautovic with one of their apparent prime targets comes as Andy Carroll is being linked with a shock exit.
Carroll is reported to be on Tottenham’s radar as a short-term solution to their Harry Kane dilemma.
Kane injured his ankle ligaments in last weekend’s defeat to Manchester United and is out until March.
Carroll could plug the gap opened up by his absence by joining Tottenham in a bargain-basement deal.