Lille will ask for Malcom on loan from Barcelona
The French club will need a replacement for Nicolas Pepe
Lille, second in Ligue 1, will ask for Barcelona’s Malcom this summer.
The French side, per beIN Sports, will make a loan bid for the Brazilian winger, to cover the absence of their star Nicolas Pepe, who is likely to leave - with Bayern Munich the favourites to sign him.
Lille need to replace the 21 goals and 11 assists the Ivorian forward has provided.
Malcom is their prime target because of his similarities to Pepe and his knowledge of Ligue 1, having signed for Barca from Girondins Bordeaux.
Lille will have to compete with Arsenal, Tottenham, Inter Milan and Tottenham, among other big European sides interested in his services.
They believe Marc Ingla, former Barca vice-president under Laporte in 2003-07, who is at their club, will help facilitate the dialogue.
Malcom has played 22 games for Barca, scoring four goals.
