West Ham United were allegedly so, so close to sign Duvan Zapata from Atalanta on transfer deadline day in January.
That’s according to a report from ESPN who claim that the East London outfit were really trying to bring the Colombia International to the club on deadline day.
Hammers boss David Moyes desperately tried to bring a new forward to the London Stadium during the January transfer window.
The Scot failed to do so though, leaving the club with Michail Antonio as our only recognised senior striker.
Read also: West Ham fans will be absolutely buzzing as Brendan Rodgers makes worrying admission
That obviously isn’t anywhere near good enough for a club who have aspirations of challenging for honours both domestically and on the continent.
It seems as though Moyes did try to get a centre-forward signing over the line in the last knockings of the window.
It was just all too little too late, however…
Report makes Zapata claim after failed to transfer to West Ham
ESPN claims that deal for the Hammers to sign the 30-year-old Atalanta striker was ‘hastily arranged’.
It is suggested that West Ham were just one signature away from getting the deal done.
According to ESPN, an agreement was reached and paperwork was exchanged between the two clubs with sufficient time remaining on January 31st.
One final signature was required from the powers that be at the Serie A club, but they ‘went missing’.
The report claims that West Ham could not have done anything more to get a deal to sign Duvan Zapata over the line.
The 30-year-old striker, described as ‘deadly’ by talkSPORT, would have been a superb addition for the Hammers.
Zapata has been in fine form in Italy this season, racking up 12 goals and seven assists in 23 games for Atalanta. He also boasts a decent career record of 149 goals in 379 games (Transfermarkt).
The South American hitman seems to possess all of the attributes needed to succeed in the Premier League.
Zapata stands at 6ft 2in tall, and possesses an impressive build and physique. He is strong as an ox and has pace in abundance.
Since our failed deadline day swoop to sign him, he suffered an adductor injury when playing for Atalanta and could be out of action for around three months. So perhaps West Ham had a lucky escape by missing out on the Atalanta ace.
Forza Italian Football claims that Atalanta wanted around €40 million (£33 million) for the 30-year-old striker. Whether we would have been prepared to pay that amount or were chasing a loan with an option to buy deal is unclear.
It is comforting to know that the Hammers did everything they could to bring Zapata to the London Stadium. It’s still incredibly annoying that we left it so late on in the window to get it done though.
Read also:
West Ham fans really need to see what Yarmolenko did after Rice scored vs Kidderminster
Report: GSB made £55m January bid but PL club wouldn’t sell due to relegation worries
25-year-old was so bad vs Kidderminster, he should never wear the West Ham shirt again
Opinion: West Ham secure huge coup by tying ‘De Bruyne wannabe’ down to new deal