Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Barcelona forward Malcom who arrived at Camp Nou last summer from Ligue 1 side Girondins Bordeaux.
According to a report from the Spanish-based outlet Diario AS, the Brazilian has garnered interest from numerous clubs in Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur with Borussia Dortmund also in the reckoning.
However, the Catalan club prefer selling the 22-year-old to one of the Premier League clubs, the report adds.
The Lilywhites have already secured the signature of Jack Clarke from Leeds United (though he will return to the Championship side on loan) and have signed Tanguy Ndombele in a club record deal on a six-year contract.
Malcom managed 1067 minutes scoring 4 goals and providing 2 assists in 24 appearances for the club across all competitions last term.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of the potential deal.
PROS
The 22-year-old, like any other Brazilian, is technically astute and is supremely comfortable with the ball at his feet.
His passing, dribbling, close control and ability to hold onto the ball in tight situations are some key features the Blaugrana forward boasts in his armoury.
He averaged a pass success rate of 86.9% and managed 0.7 dribbles, 0.9 key passes per game across all competitions in the recently concluded campaign.
The former Bordeaux forward also possesses the ability to strike the ball from distance and excels in dead ball situations. This could be beneficial to Spurs’ style of play seeing the aerial prowess of the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Vertonghen inside the box.
The Brazilian’s age is another factor which falls in line with Spurs’ policy of recruiting young players seeing he is only 22 years of age and already has the likes of Barcelona on his CV.
The Argentine manager Mauricio Pochettino can mould someone with such an explosive potential and turn him into a truly world-class player.
CONS
The left-footed winger has displayed a substandard work-rate in the defensive phase of the game and exhibits mediocre aerial prowess thanks to his 5ft 6in stature.
He managed 0.2 tackles, 0.1 interceptions, 0.1 clearances and 0.3 successful aerial duels per game across all competitions last season.
These red flags could prove detrimental for the north London club, seeing the pace and competitiveness of the Premier League and also the importance Pochettino lays in pressing the opposition with the attack more often than not acting as the first line of defence.
Also, the form of Son and Moura has been encouraging and they are likely to hog the flanks next season leaving Pochettino looking to bolster his attacking midfield.
Stat Courtesy: Transfermarkt, Whoscored