Back before Mauricio Pochettino made the bold call of signing Lucas Moura in the January 2018 window, it was reported that the Lilywhites could be set to sign Malcom from Bordeaux, The Telegraph. However, Spurs avoided the Brazilian, and going back in for him now would be foolish.
It looks like it could happen, though. The Lilywhites are desperate to sign Giovani Lo Celso by all accounts this season, yet Sport, via Sport Witness, have claimed that Malcom is the man that the club will try for should they fail in their pursuit of the Argentine Real Betis midfielder.
That’s a worrying update on Tottenham’s transfer hunt. Malcom may have shown plenty of promise in Ligue 1 with Bordeaux, but at Barcelona, he’s hardly shown the same form, racking up a meagre four goals and two assists in his 24 goals in all competitions for Barcelona in his debut campaign, Transfermarkt.
Now, though, as Barcelona prepare for a new season with Antoine Griezmann and maybe even Neymar in the side, bolstering their attacking options, the already limited opportunities for Malcom will become even more scarce, which is why the Brazilian is searching for a move away.
Mauricio Pochettino may have use for a player of Malcom’s ability, but when you consider the club are after Giovani Lo Celso, a number ten who shone for Betis in all competitions last season, Barcelona’s bit-part Malcom is a poor second-choice in comparison.
Lo Celso’s numbers last season really stood out, in his 46 games he chipped in with 22 combined goals and assists in his 46 games last season, averaging a goal or assist almost once every two games as opposed to Malcom’s once every four games.
The Brazilian Barcelona man still might come good in a side where he can be relied upon consistently, but with Tottenham looking to kick on, bringing him in would be a much riskier move than the one that would see Giovani Lo Celso sign, given how effective the Argentine was last season.