Tottenham lead chase for Bordeaux star Malcom – but Mauricio Pochettino will play hardball over £40m asking price
Spurs head the queue for the Brazilian star’s signature after Arsenal pulled out of race
TOTTENHAM are leading the chase for Malcom — but Mauricio Pochettino is prepared to play hardball.
Bordeaux want £40million for the winger, but Spurs value him at £25m, especially with a new £750m stadium to pay for.
SunSport understands boss Poch is interested in the Brazilian, 20, and Spurs head the queue for the star’s signature after Arsenal pulled out.
Tottenham could pay slightly more if they can shake hands now on a deal that would see him return to France on loan for the rest of the season.
Arsenal had eyed Malcom as a possible replacement for Alexis Sanchez, but ended their interest to focus on sealing deals for Manchester United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
This has left it open for Spurs to bring in Malcom, even though Poch tried to play down talk of a move yesterday, claiming he might as well sign sprint king Usain Bolt!
Pochettino denied he needs to inject pace into his side. He said: “Our football is playing football. It is not counter-attack, it is not transition.
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“I think Usain Bolt is available. But his dream is to play at United.
“I feel sorry for him because he is a Man U fan! It is impossible to be faster than him, though.”
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