Transfer Target - Mauro Zarate (Video)

Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland side has struggled to find the back of the net with Steven Fletcher scoring 10 of the club’s 27 league goals this season. The Wearsiders have been linked with a January loan move for Lazio forward Mauro Zarate to ease the goal scoring burden on Fletcher.

Birmingham fans will know the name and may remember the Argentine for his loan spell at St Andrews in 2008 during which, aged 21 and with flowing locks like compatriot Lionel Messi,  he forward scored 4 goals in 14 Premier League games but was unable to save Birmingham from relegation.

Zarate started his career in his native Argentina with Velez Sarsfield where he scored 28 goals in 99 games earning a move to Qatari side Al-Sadd. It seems the trend is to make a move to the Middle East towards the end of a career but Zarate moved to Qatar at 20 years old.

During 2 years with Al-Sadd Zarate made just 6 appearances and scored 4 goals earning himself loan moves to Birmingham and Lazio, before being purchased outright by the Italians for around €20 million.

Following 2 poor seasons with Lazio which yielded just 17 goals in 78 games in all competitions Zarate was sent on loan again, this time to Lazio’s Serie A rivals Inter Milan. The Argentine’s spell at the San Siro was equally uninspiring and he returned to Lazio having scored just 3 goals for Inter.

The past few years have been far from fruitful for Zarate in Italy but his talent is undoubted and would provide a considerable goal threat if Sunderland were to land the forward on a temporary deal to the end of the season.

Zarate could prove the perfect partner for Steven Fletcher with his ability to play as a centre forward or just behind the main striker he offers similar attributes to compatriot Lionel Messi.

Sam Jewell

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