Everton ‘in Advanced Talks’ to Land £30m Bordeaux Ace Malcom
By Tom Power
Toffees closing in on first summer signing as Yannick Bolasie Replacement
Everton are reportedly in advanced talks to sign Boredeaux starlet Malcom.
Sky Sports has suggested that the Toffees are on the cusp of bringing the forward to Goodison Park for a fee thought to be in the region of £30m.
Malcom’s arrival would be a huge coup for Everton after the clubs that he has been linked with.
The 21-year-old has been on the radar of Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich for much of the past year.
If Everton managed to secure his signature then it would signify a massive boost in their efforts to strengthen their first-team squad and represent a psychological victory over their rivals.
Bordeaux chairman Stephane Martin will apparently meet representatives form the Blues on Thursday to finalise the terms of the deal.
The £30m transfer will include add-ons such as a sell-on fee, and bonuses for the number of matches Malcom plays and goals that he scores.
The Brazil Under-23 international is also said to be in line for a wage of around £80,000-a-week.
Malcom has notched 23 goals and 16 assists in 96 games for Bordeaux ever since he completed a £5m switch from Corinthians in his homeland in January 2016.
He was labelled as one of the hottest prospects to emerge from the South American nation in many years when he was a teenager.
He is yet to receive a senior cap for Brazil but a switch to the Premier League would surely help with that dream of his.
The Ligue Un side’s manager – Gus Poyet – refused to let Malcom leave in the January transfer window and revealed he wouldn’t have taken the job if his star man was sold.
Malcom, however, told reporters in February that he would “choose a team” in the summer and Bordeaux would sanction his departure after an agreement to do so was made five months ago.
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Malcom’s possible arrival would mean Yannick Bolasie is almost certain to leave Everton, with Turkish clubs said to be weighing up a season-long loan deal for him.