Everton chasing prolific Serie A striker

Everton boss Frank Lampard is under increasing pressure to turn his side’s fortunes around following their 2-1 defeat to Southampton on Saturday. 

The Toffees have been in poor form this season and the situation at the club was worsened by the defeat at Goodison Park.

The hosts took the lead in the first half but a brace from Saints’ James Ward-Prowse ensured it was the visitors who secured all three points, leaving Everton in the relegation zone.

Now, in a bid to improve their form, The Toffees are plotting a move for a Serie A striker.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Premier League club are preparing an approach for Atalanta’s Duvan Zapata.

The Colombian international has established himself as one of the most prolific forwards in the Italian top flight in recent seasons, scoring 80 goals in 174 matches for Atalanta.

This season his form has dipped, though, and he has netted just once in 12 Serie A games.

Zapata is being targeted by Everton

The Toffees have struggled in front of goal of late, scoring just 15 Premier League goals this season, and Lampard is on the hunt for attacking reinforcements.

Romano claims that the English side are open to the idea of an initial loan deal with an option-to-buy clause included, while their Italian counterparts are only willing to let the Colombian player leave permanently.

Zapata, 31, joined his current side from Sampdoria in 2020 having previously spent time on loan with the club.

His scoring record in Italy is impressive, with the forward having netted 107 times in 269 Serie A games across spells with Sampdoria, Udinese, Napoli and Atalanta.

Everton’s current crop of strikers have struggled for form this season, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin having netted just just once in nine league games this term.

Brazilian forward Richarlison was allowed to join Tottenham Hotspur last summer, but Everton failed to replace him.