Former Arsenal hero Andrey Arshavin believes Malcom is ready for a move to a major European club with his Premier League employers reportedly weighing up a move for the Zenit St Petersburg star.
When scouting potential signings, most clubs tend to consider both the statistics and whether or not the player in question passes the good old-fashioned ‘eye test’.
As far as Arshavin is concerned, Malcom has no problems in either department. The former Barcelona benchwarmer has 26 goals and nine assists for the Russian Premier League giants this term, but those admittedly-exceptional numbers do not even tell the full story of his impact in the baby blue of Zenit St Petersburg.
“He is the best both in terms of his play and his statistics. Who is better than him? He deservedly should become the Player of the Year,” Arshavin, who now works as the debuty general manager at Zenit, tells Sport24.
“Of course, everyone at the club is happy with the Brazilians we have. There is a desire to keep them. But everyone understands the situation, which can happen in different ways; maybe no one leaves, maybe one, two or three will leave.
“Realising this, the club is looking for replacements.”
Will Malcom leave Zenit for Arsenal?
According to 90Min, Arsenal are one of a number of clubs eyeing up the explosive, £40 million-rated right-winger ahead of the summer transfer window.
26-year-old Malcom reportedly has admirers at Newcastle United and Manchester City too; confirming last week that Paris Saint-Germain had also expressed an interest as the Ligue 1 champions prepare for life without the departing Lionel Messi.
Arshavin is under no illusions that Malcom, putting that disastrous Barcelona spell behind him, is ready to make up for lost time in one of Europe’s major leagues.
The Zenit-legend-turned-director would still prefer to see his top-scoring talisman stick around for another season, though Arshavin accepts that Malcom’s recent Brazil call-up will serve to only enhance his growing reputation.
“For me, (Malcom’s call-up) is unexpected. But, on the other hand, deserved,” Arshavin adds. “But this is a bad signal. If he scores a goal, his chances of leaving Zenit will increase.
“If there is a good offer, if it is concrete, Malcom will consider it anyway. Malcolm is at such an age where he can play in the European leagues.”
The post 'Who's better than him?': Arshavin blown away by £40m Arsenal target appeared first on HITC.
from HITC https://ift.tt/O2D6oY8
No comments: