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Soldati confirms Arsenal offer for Serie A striker

By on May 28, 2016

Udinese president Franco Soldati has been quoted in the Express as saying that Arsenal have made an offer for Colombian striker Duvan Zapata.

Arsene Wenger is in the market for another striker after Danny Welbeck was ruled out for nine months with a knee injury and while we’ve been linked with a number of top names in recent weeks, Zapata has suddenly emerged as a target.

He certainly isn’t a house-hold name so for those who don’t know him, Zapata came through the youth system at America de Cali back in his homeland and after a two-year spell at Estudiantes, he joined Napoli in 2013.

The 25-year-old scored 15 times for the Naples club before being sent out on loan to Udinese last summer where he’s scored 8 times in his 24 Serie A appearances this season.

Zapata has another year remaining on his two-year loan at Udinese but Napoli have the option to recall him this summer and could therefore sell the striker if they come to an agreement with another club.

It looks like Arsenal are among those who are interested in signing the Colombian as the Udinese president claims we’ve put forward an offer for Zapata’s signature, although he’s hopeful the player will decide to remain at the Stadio Friuli.

“There is a clause that allows Napoli to recall him early from the two-year loan,” Soldati is quoted as saying by the Express

“He is very happy in Udine, his agent said that too and I hope he can remain with our jersey.

“He also received many offers from abroad, including from Arsenal. However, first we want coach Beppe Iachini to get to know the team so they can make shared decisions.”

There are always idle rumours at this time of year but this claim of an Arsenal offer has come straight from the Udinese president, and he has little to gain in making up gossip about an offer in a player he wants to keep.

It would be a random move by Wenger if we were to sign Zapata as he’s a long way from the top class striker we desperately need. For me, Zapata would be a squad player at best.

If the boss plans to sign him AND a top class striker like Morata, then fair enough, but if Zapata was to be our only new forward this summer then I think we’d see a lot of disgruntled supporters.

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This is the summer we need to kick on and bring in the players we need to make us compete for top honours. Xhaka is an excellent start but Zapata would be a hugely disappointing signing in my opinion.

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