Spurs in quickly for Brazil’s Bolt
TOTTENHAM appear to be leading the race to sign Malcom after local rivals Arsenal pulled out.
Arsene Wenger has prioritised bringing in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan instead.
He has also been put off by Bordeaux’s £50million price tag for Malcom.
Now Tottenham, through top negotiator Daniel Levy, believe they can get their man for an initial lump sum of just £30m.
Yesterday Mauricio Pochettino refused to deny their interest in the 20-year-old Brazilian.
“Yes, but he has been linked with different clubs,” he said when it was pointed out that the forward known for his pace was available.
“I don’t want to speak about players that are in other clubs.”
Spurs have allowed Georges-Kevin N’Koudou and Marcus Edwards to join Burnley and Norwich respectively.
And when asked if that created a void for someone fast like Malcom, Pochettino quipped that maybe they should sign Usain Bolt.
“I think Usain Bolt is free. I think he is available. But his dream is to play at Manchester United,” said Pochettino.
“I feel sorry for him because he is a Manchester United fan. It is impossible to be faster than him.”
Malcom moved to Bordeaux in 2016 and has scored seven goals in 21 appearances this season.
Pochettino has repeatedly claimed he would be entirely happy if the club did not sign anyone in the January transfer window.
“We are here and relaxed,” he added yesterday. “To be honest it is difficult, but always at some point you dream. If it happens it happens.
“I’m not a specialist in the market. I’m a specialist in football. It is difficult to assess the market. It is difficult to predict and know what is going on. The most important thing is to be focused and ready.”
He returns to old club Southampton tomorrow and could be without Hugo Lloris because of illness. But Toby Alderweireld is on the mend after a hamstring problem and could be back next week against Newport in the FA Cup after three months out.
“We need to wait and assess Hugo,” said Pochettino. “It is flu or a virus. Everyone with this weather will struggle a bit.
“If all goes well with Toby he will warm up with the team and will be integrated gradually. Maybe next week will be a good time to play.”
Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino is refusing to panic about the club’s lack of January signings. The Saints have £75m to spend after selling Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool but Theo Walcott this week turned his back on a return to St Mary’s to join Everton.
Pellegrino, who wants Monaco striker Guido Carrillo and Spartak Moscow winger Quincy Promes, said: “We did everything to try to bring Theo here.
“The board is working really hard. To bring players is easy but to bring good players when a lot of teams are fighting for them is difficult.
“I have to be optimistic that in the next few days something big will happen.” Saints are targeting a club-record deal for £30m-rated Promes, who helped fire Spartak to a league and cup double last season and was named Russian player of the year.
The Dutchman was compared to former Saints star Sadio Mane by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp ahead of the Reds’ Champions League clash with Spartak earlier this season.
Promes is keen on a move to England but Saints will have to smash the £18.1m they paid Juventus for Mario Lemina to land him.
Promes has scored 53 goals in 101 games for Spartak.