Everton are planning an official approach to FC Barcelona to sign Brazilian winger Malcom, according to RMC Sport’s Chief Editor Mohamed Bouhafsi.
The Toffees have already signed three players from the Catalan outfit in the past year with Andre Gomes, Lucas Digne and Yerry Mina ditching Spain for Merseyside.
Gomes’ return following his season on loan here was seen as Marco Silva’s priority heading into the summer, and, now that the Portuguese ace has put pen to paper, it is believed Malcom has emerged as the boss’ new priority signing.
Everton were interested in a move for Malcom before he left Bordeaux and joined Barcelona last season, with the Brazilian’s services setting the La Liga outfit back £36.5million, a day after AS Roma announced they had agreed terms with his former Ligue 1 side.
It is thought that the Toffees will not match the fee Barca paid for Malcom, though, with Bouhafsi reporting the bid is expected to come close to €35million (£31.4m).
Arsenal are also interested in Malcom’s availability, and are in active discussions with the winger’s representatives, although they are yet to approach Barcelona with an offer.
Malcom’s future at the Camp Nou is continually thought to be up in the air following his troublesome debut season with Barcelona, as Ernesto Valverde only awarded the 22-year-old 15 La Liga appearances – nine of which came from the bench.
Toward the end of June, Mundo Deportivo noted that his time in Catalunya hinged on the development of Barca’s work in the transfer market, but that it was almost taken as granted that Malcom would be one of the players sold alongside Gomes.
However, as players such as Gomes, Denis Suarez, and Jasper Cillessen drifted away from the La Liga champions, the potential for Malcom to stay another year grew stronger by the day, as Valverde will need depth in his ranks, even if he rarely turned to the Brazilian.
Yet not long after, Barca were thought to have offered his #14 shirt to Frenkie de Jong upon the midfielder’s arrival from Ajax in honour of Johan Cruijff, but the Dutchman declined the proposal.
Marcel Brands and Silva may now try and play on the strong relationship the club shares with Barcelona to strike a deal for £90,000-a-week Malcom, which would be sure to delight these fans…
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