Brazilian winger Malcom has been linked with a move to Chelsea, according to reports. The 20-year-old winger who is currently playing for French club FC Girondins Bordeaux has previously been linked to Arsenal.
Latest reports now have linked the player with a move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have managed to get their struggling season under control to some extent this year. The Blues played some glorious football last year after the switch to a 3-4-3 but the loss of Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic meant that the team dynamically changed. Moreover with Willian still to repeat his form of the past and Pedro looking extremely passive and inconsistent in all his games this year, Conte had to switch to a 3-5-2 to find some balance in the team.
Young Charly Musonda still has not adapted to life at West London and first-team football continues to evade him. It has left Conte short on attacking wingers with Eden Hazard the only winger delivering up to his usual standards. Conte will want to bring in Malcom to add that variety and attacking threat, which was a lot more prevalent in the 3-4-3 formation.
As for Malcom, the player moved to France in 2016 and has since gone on to impress many people around Europe. He is off to a very impressive start and has already scored 5 Ligue 1 goals this season. He has also set up another five goals in his 15 appearances for the club.
The versatile winger can play on either wing or in attack and has also featured for Brazil’s U-20 and U-23 sides. Chelsea has identified the dynamic young winger as a potential replacement for the aging Willian and Pedro and it is now being reported that Antonio Conte wants to bring in the 20-year-old. The Italian manager believes the arrival of Malcom will pave the way for the exit of either Willian or Pedro, neither of whom have been impressive enough this season.
Malcom’s transfer would be an interesting one especially if Conte wants the winger to replace his first-team players. Malcom has impressed everyone so far but he is still untested in the big waters. He is yet to play for a major European club in their starting eleven on a regular basis.
Malcom, at 20, has time on his side and if Conte does bring him in, he will hope that the winger can go on to make it big and live up to his potential.
