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What's the story?
With the winter transfer window coming to an end in a few days, teams are busy trying to secure new signings to strengthen their squads. Arsenal are no exception, as they are desperate for a new forward to bolster their squad.
According to reputed media outlets, Daily Mail and The Sun, Arsenal are keen to secure the services of Barcelona's Brazilian misfit, Malcolm, on loan.
In case you didn't know...
Since his arrival at the Nou Camp last summer, the 21 year old Brazilian starlet has struggled to fit into Barcelona's squad. Malcolm has featured in about 150 minutes for Barcelona in all competitions this season, as he has failed to make an impact and win the trust of Barcelona coach, Ernesto Valverde.
On the other hand, Arsenal has experienced a change in their managerial hot seat after decades, and the board are keen to bring in reinforcements for new coach, Unai Emery. They are currently fifth in the Premier League, and will be fighting to secure a top four spot this season.
The heart of the matter
Arsenal could offer a temporary way out for Malcolm, by bringing him to the English Premier League. Malcolm is currently frustrated with his limited game time with Barcelona, and more minutes on the pitch will not halt his growth as a player.
According to the report, Barcelona are aware of the possibility of Malcolm leaving at the end of the season, and will ask for around €50 million if Arsenal are willing to pay. The talks reportedly were held when Arsenal were discussing the possibility of signing Denis Suarez. The Arsenal hierarchy will now await a green signal from the Spanish giants.
Malcolm's arrival might be fruitful for Arsenal's ventures this season. Although he is inexperienced, Malcolm will definitely improve the squad depth. Moreover, the Brazilian talent has rarely gotten the chance to prove himself at Barcelona so far, and will be eager to perform whenever he gets the chance.
Rumour rating: 6/10
The transfer window closes in just a few days, and Arsenal will have to act quickly if they want to secure the services of the player. A loan deal looks like a real possibility, and might be a boon for the parties involved.
What's next?
It is unclear whether Barcelona are willing to let the player go, as it may hamper their squad depth.
Although Arsenal have looked promising under the guidance of Unai Emery, they have had bad patches as well. It still remains to be seen how they fare till the end of the season, but Malcolm's arrival will definitely be a boost for them.
