Brazilian attacker Malcom was a top transfer target for both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the January transfer window
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Malcom has claimed that he will be allowed to leave current club Bordeaux at the end of the season, as per a report from Brazilian sports outlet UOL.
The 20-year old has been making waves in the French Ligue 1 with some stellar displays and this had seen him attract strong interest from North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham in the recently concluded January transfer window.
It was understood that Arsenal were deep in negotiations with Malcom’s representatives, but aborted the move as they made Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang their top transfer target towards the end of the window. Eventually, the Gunners signed the Gabonese striker from Borussia Dortmund for a club-record £56 million.
Tottenham, on the other hand, were also on the lookout for a new attacker in the winter window and had identified Malcom as one of their primary targets. However, the club weren’t willing to shell out the hefty fee that Bordeaux demanded to sell the Brazilian. And with Malcom’s compatriot Lucas Moura becoming available for transfer at the same time, the Lilywhites decided to sign the more experienced player for a much lesser price from Paris Saint-Germain.
However, the two clubs could once again be put on an alert, as Malcom has claimed in a recent interview with UOL that he will be looking to leave his current club in the summer.
“Yes, there was a promise that I will be negotiating (to leave) in June,” Malcom told UOL . “I will choose the team, and Bordeaux will let me go.”
Who will Malcom choose? ? pic.twitter.com/bxGwcdUdu3
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 15, 2018
The 20-year old also conceded that he had indeed asked to leave Bordeaux in January, but changed his mind and decided to stay till the end of the season.
“I already said that I would have liked to leave this winter to meet new challenges,” he added. “But I must also remember that Bordeaux helped me a lot.
“I gave my word to Bordeaux that I will continue [with the club] to be able to have more time to choose my future club. These next three or four months will make a big difference.”
Malcom joined Bordeaux in January 2016 from Brazilian side Corinthians and established himself as a key player at the club almost immediately. Till date, he has scored 19 goals and assisted 15 more for the French side in 85 appearances. In the ongoing season, the 20-year-old has netted eight times in all competitions in 24 matches.
Able to play in any position in attack, Malcom is a player with immense potential and his stock will only continue to rise from here on, especially if he gets picked to represent the Brazilian national team in the summer’s FIFA World Cup. Following his admission that he will be allowed to leave in the summer, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see clubs lining up to try and sign him.
