Rumour Mongering: Klopp Goes After £40m Bordeaux Starlet

Liverpool’s campaign won’t even have ended when the transfer window opens on May 17^th (although the rest of English clubs not in the Champions League final should have plenty of free time). Even so, and maybe in small part due to the buzz over a move for Lyon’s Nabil Fekir slowly completing its cycle through the rumour mill, transfer speculation has turned to another big name in the French top flight, Bordeaux’s Malcom.

The 21-year-old Brazilian has lit up Ligue 1 this season, with his tally of 10 goals and seven assists, as well some electric play from wide areas, landing him on the wish list of the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal. The Daily Mail is reporting however, that Jürgen Klopp has also joined the hunt for the in-demand winger, adding the ex-Corinthians man to Borussia Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic and Bayer Leverkusen’s Leon Bailey as names on the German’s target list.

£40m has been the price bandied about but there is no clear evidence at this juncture to conclude that Liverpool have made any sort of approach to the French club. However, as a pacy, young and technical attacker, Malcolm would appear to fit the profile the Reds will be targeting.

This season has proven that despite the excellent recruitment of the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Andy Robertson, Liverpool still lack the depth to adequately challenge across four competitions next term, making more transfers—particularly along the attacking band—a necessity in the summer.

The fearsome front three of Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané have been deadly when fit and firing this season, but the team has experienced a significant drop off in attacking quality whenever one of the three aren’t in the side, with Klopp having rode his luck this season on the fitness of his forwards. In that light, Malcom would on paper certainly appear to be the exact sort of recruit needed to push the starters and maintain quality when on the pitch.

A win over Real Madrid in the Champions League final in two weeks would give the Reds a massive boost in the pursuit of their targets and Liverpool fans will be hoping Malcom is potentially among that number.