According to RMC Sport journalist Mohamed Bouhafsi, as cited by Daily Star, Everton are set to make a €35 million bid for Malcom. The Barcelona winger has been linked with a move to Arsenal this summer, but it seems as if that the Toffees are ready to hijack the move and lure the Brazilian to the Merseyside. However, both the sides could face stiff competition from Paris Saint-Germain.
Malcom’s disastrous spell at Barcelona
Malcom joined Barcelona for a fee of €41 million last summer. But, he endured a terrible debut campaign in La Liga that saw him feature in only 608 minutes of league football. He scored just one goal and provided two assists in the 15 league games he had played last term.
The former Bordeaux prodigy was often overlooked in favour of the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho. And that trend could continue in the upcoming campaign, especially with Barcelona set to announce the arrival of Antoine Griezmann while they are also plotting a move to re-sign Neymar from PSG.
Hence, the 22-year-old could prove surplus to the requirement for Ernesto Valverde next season as the Spaniard plots an overhaul in the attacking department this summer.
What can Malcom bring to the table?
Malcom is known for his ability to create chances by threading in through passes in behind the backline as opposed to a traditional winger who likes to get to the byline and provide crosses into the box. That means he can act as an inverted winger, who mainly operates from a central role despite featuring out wide.
The Brazilian is an excellent dribbler and is also wholly composed on the ball. Besides, he is proficient when it comes to set-pieces – making him a well-rounded attacker.
Why Everton needs Malcom?
Everton have a shallow attacking department despite the emergence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the last term. Richarlison remains the only reliable goal-scorer, but the lack of consistency and injury problems from wide players in the likes of Theo Walcott and Ademola Lookman forced the Brazilian to feature in a wide attacking role.
Malcom, in that regard, could relieve a lot of the scoring burden from the ex-Watford star and will allow him to operate in a more central role. As for Malcom, himself, he can be deployed in the right flank. His ability to conjure up scoring opportunities in the final third coupled with his dynamism, could make him an upgrade over the likes of Walcott and Lookman, thus making him an ideal signing for Marco Silva.
