Liverpool and Manchester United target Malcolm has played down rumours linking him with a move to the Premier League giants
The Brazilian attacking midfielder joined Bordeaux from Corinthians in January 2016 for a reported fee of £4.25 million. He has since gone on to become a key player for Jocelyn Gourvennec’s side and his performances have been catching the eye of several clubs across Europe.
Liverpool and Manchester United are said to be among those clubs, with the 19-year-old quickly rising to prominence in Ligue 1 this season, but Malcolm says that he is concentrating on his performances for Bordeaux and not paying attention to the rumours.
“I don’t know anything about Liverpool or Manchester United,” he said, according to Goal. “I’m very calm. I’m only thinking of Bordeaux today. I want to do my job well and give the French fans lots of joy. I will continue to work hard with my usual humility.”
Malcolm has made 30 appearances for Bordeaux this season and has scored 6 goals and picked up 4 assists. He has also picked up a reputation for his tendency to shoot from range as well as his impressive set-piece abilities.
A hard-working player, the Brazilian attacking midfielder is also registering an average of 1.6 shots per game, 1.4 key passes, 0.9 successful dribbles and 0.9 tackles per game this season, according to WhoScored.
The 19-year old has become one of Bordeaux’s most influential players so it is no surprise he is garnering interest from clubs around Europe. Give his age and the fact that he is already putting in impressive performances, the youngster clearly has a lot of potential.
Manchester United are already well-stock with attacking midfielders, but Jose Mourinho could look to add another young player to their ranks as he looks to build a side that can dominate Europe for years to come.
Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are currently fighting it out for a spot on the wing but with Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young and possible Jesse Lingard set to leave the club at the end of the season, Mourinho will definitely be seeking reinforcements.
Jurgen Klopp is also on the lookout for young, talented players and Malcolm fits that profile. Liverpool also have a wealth of attacking options, but the departure of Sadio Mane to the African Cup of Nations coupled with a few injury issues showed how much of an impact the loss of regular starters has on Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Klopp also became renowned for nurturing young attacking players during his time at Borussia Dortmund, and will no doubt be looking to do the same thing with Liverpool. Malcolm would also find it easier to settle down given Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino would be the perfect role models to help their compatriot settle in England.
However, it appears for the moment that Malcolm himself is unsure of what comes next. Given that he has a contract that runs until 2020, it seems unlikely that he will be particularly inexpensive should either club pursue their interest as well.
