Torino may be lining up a replacement for star striker Andrea Belotti, according to Radio Kiss Kiss (via Tuttomercatoweb). The Naples based radio station say Napoli have received a €19m offer (plus bonuses) from Torino for their forward Duvan Zapata.
The Colombian has returned to the Italian club after a two year loan spell at fellow Serie A side Udinese. During his time in Udine, he made 65 appearances and scored 19 goals, playing regularly in both his seasons at the Dacia Arena.
If the report is accurate, the offer for Zapata would smash Torino’s transfer record by €10m. They last broke their record last summer when they signed winger Adem Ljajic from Roma for €9m.
Considering the size of the bid then, it would suggest they are anticipating a sizeable transfer windfall although the sales of Nikola Maksimovic to Napoli and Bruno Pires to Roma for a combined €32.5m may mean the club already have a sizeable transfer budget.
Torino president Urbano Cairo has confirmed in recent days Chelsea have not made a bid for Belotti, and the player’s €100m release clause could prove a stumbling block.
