No sooner had Arsenal fans come to terms with the fact their club probably wouldn’t be signing Malcom this month, Spurs have come galloping in to nab the 20-year-old.
Tottenham are reportedly very close to signing Malcom from Bordeaux.
According to the UOLsporte, the winger’s representatives met with Mauricio Pochettino and Spurs owner Daniel Levy this week and were ‘delighted’ with their offer.
Tottenham are close to sign Malcom from Bordeaux. His agents met Mauricio Pochettino and Daniel Levy this week in London and were absolutely delighted with what they heard. It is likely to be a £40m + £10m deal.
— Caio Carrieri (@caiocarrieri) January 19, 2018
This would explain why the 20-year-old’s team were pictured in London.
Tottenham are allegedly willing to pay £40m plus £10m in bonuses. That’s £50m in total for a 20-year-old.
Brazilian journalist Bruno Andrade claims that after Arsenal pulled the plug on negotiations, another meeting took place between Spurs and Malcom’s reps today (Friday).
Malcom: #Arsenal virtually gave up the negotiation; #Tottenham came back on scene and has a meeting today in London
— Bruno Andrade (@brunoandrd) January 19, 2018
Considering Arsenal were only reportedly willing to pay £40m and the Ligue 1 club were asking for £44.5m, it’s hardly a surprise that they would jump at the chance to get £50m.
No developments expected today on Sanchez/Mkhitaryan. Still work to do as currently Mkhitaryan deal hasn't moved on & could yet go either way. Arsenal hopeful on that + Aubameyang. Talks continue. Malcom off – meetings held but eventually deemed too inexperienced #AFC #MUFC #BVB
— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) January 19, 2018
Mkhitaryan deal up to Raiola. If he agrees it happens, if doesn't it won't. No issue with #MUFC or player. To clarify on Malcolm, reason (among a few) #AFC out was price/value relative to experience – not inexperience alone. Not sure on #THFC reports but Pochettino is a huge fan
— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) January 19, 2018
Notably, there are a handful of Spurs fans insisting that Pochettino has been in Spain all week and not London as the report suggests, so, as usual, it’s worth taking this with a pinch of salt.
Poch has been in Spain all week.
— Ledley Kings Knä (@LedleyKingsKna) January 19, 2018
Pochettino was in Spain
— Neil Hewitt (@spoono99) January 19, 2018
Arsenal are understood to have pulled out of the deal after Bordeaux made it clear that they wouldn’t sell in January. We also apparently deemed the youngster too inexperienced.
Instead, we turned our full attention to Dortmund striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who I’m sure most Gooners would prefer over the young Brazil international.
It’ll be interesting to see if Arsenal have a final roll of the dice now that it appears Bordeaux are willing to talk.