Arsenal and Tottenham have contacted Barcelona over unsettled Malcom with Mauricio Pochettino planning January transfer signings
Brazilian midfielder has struggled to make an impact at the Nou Camp since summer move and Premier League clubs have already shown interest in giving him fresh start
ARSENAL and Tottenham are both looking at trying to make a shock move to sign Barcelona misfit Malcom, it has been claimed.
Midfielder Malcom has long been regarded as one of the best young talents in world football since establishing himself in Europe at Bordeaux.
His £36.5million move to Barcelona over the summer was supposed to herald his arrival at the top table of the game.
The Spanish giants beat off huge interest from the Premier League, including from the North London rivals, to secure the services of the 21-year-old.
But since then things have not gone as well as planned for the midfielder, who has made just two appearances for Barca this season.
Now reports in Spain suggest that the defending La Liga champions are willing to listen to offers for Malcom - even on a short term basis - to allow him to get match action to continue his development.
Newspaper suggest Spurs and Arsenal have already been in touch to see if there is the potential of business being done in the January transfer window.
And they claim that while a loan has been mooted, the bigger chance is that Barcelona would be open to the idea of selling the player for a fee of £43m.
Arsenal boss Unai Emery is continuing to overhaul the squad he inherited from Arsene Wenger, and is well aware of his talents from his time working in France.
Midfield is an area Emery is keen to stamp his mark on, not least having decided to withdraw the contract offer to Aaron Ramsey as he gets ready to let the Welshman leave the Emirates.
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Bringing in Malcom as a direct replacement to Ramsey would be seen as a hugely positive move.
But they would face competition from their local rivals Tottenham if boss Mauricio Pochettino gets his way.
Pochettino has tracked Malcom for the past 18 months but has not had the financial backing to be able to snap up the Brazilian.
Now it appears he has finally been given the clearance to spend money in January - and the midfielder appears to be in his sights.
The Spurs boss has admitted it is likely he will be active in the market when it opens in Janaury.
Pochettino said:"Of course we are always trying to improve our squad because football is dynamic.
“Every six months you need to do something to refresh and to wake up. Or change the dynamic in the dressing room."